Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Agriculture (UoA) Faisalabad for working together to support research and training activities leading to sustainable development and management of water resources for agriculture sector in Pakistan.
WAPDA Chairman Zafar Mahmood and UoA Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan signed the MoU on behalf of their organisations at the WAPDA House. The signing ceremony was also attended by WAPDA’s water, power, and finance members, WAPDA secretary, managing director (Administration), general manager (Coordination and Monitoring) Water, director general (Services) and senior faculty members of the university.
Speaking on the occasion, the WAPDA chairman said that 90 per cent water in Pakistan is used by the agriculture sector. Hence, there is a dire need to focus on this sector for water conservation by introducing latest irrigation techniques instead of the traditional one, which is known as flood irrigation. This will not only help them check wastage of water but also enhance productivity of water, he said. The chairman said the pricing of water is the key to strike a balance between demand and supply in all walks of life particularly in the agriculture sector.
Later, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad vice chancellor said that promoting the prudent and productive use of water in agriculture was close to their heart, adding that by signing the MoU, they would be able to work with WAPDA to promote this cause.
He expressed hope that collaboration between WAPDA and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad would help accelerate the process of change in the agriculture sector.
Earlier WAPDA signed an MoU with Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro for water management and would soon sign a similar MoU with Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam.