ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) will hold an International Water Conference in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on May 6–7, the committee said on Sunday, aiming to ensure sustainable management of water resources.
The conference on ‘Emerging Technologies for Water Security and Socio-Economic Development’ will take place at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat Islamabad. It will convene researchers, practitioners, academicians, and policymakers from around the world to address critical issues related to water management and sustainability.
Water security remains a critical issue for many OIC member states, while challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, pollution and inefficient resource management continue to threaten economic and social development.
Pakistan is among countries with highest rate of water consumption in the world. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts have been warning for years the South Asian country will approach “absolute scarcity” of water by 2025.
“The conference aims to foster in-depth discussions that will inform policy and practice, stimulate cross-sectoral collaboration, and promote innovative approaches for the sustainable management of water resources,” COMSTECH said on Sunday.
“Proceedings and a detailed post-conference report will be published to capture key insights, research findings, and actionable recommendations for long-term impact.”
Pakistan witnessed drought conditions in several areas amid a below-normal rainfall deficit of 40 percent from Sept. 1 to Mar. 21, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. There was an “acute shortage” of stored water in the Tarbela and Mangla dams, while water in different rivers flowed at an “extreme low level.”
Pakistan’s agriculture sector, which contributes nearly a quarter of Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 37 percent of the national labor force, uses the most amount of fresh water than any other sector. The South Asian country generally relies on water from the Indus river which bisects it from north to south, where it empties into the Arabian Sea.
The water conference is being held at a time when Islamabad is facing a threat from India to suspend the 1960 World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, amid tensions between the two neighbors over an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22.
Islamabad has described the move as an “act of war” and said it would take “all appropriate steps” to safeguard its due share of water.
COMSTECH said the International Water Conference in Islamabad will provide a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative dialogue, with attendees engaging in academic presentations, interactive panel discussions, and specialized technical sessions.
“Over 80 scholarly papers will be presented under diverse sub-themes, including Environment and Climate Change, Food and Agriculture, Glaciology and Snow Hydrology, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Circular Water Economy, Policy and Governance, and Artificial Intelligence for Water Security,” it said.
COMTECH is organizing the conference in collaboration with the Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Water Aid and the University of Haripur.
OIC’s COMSTECH to hold International Water Conference in Islamabad this week
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OIC’s COMSTECH to hold International Water Conference in Islamabad this week
- The conference is being held at a time when India has threatened to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty that ensures water for 80 percent Pakistani farmland
- The global event on emerging technologies, water security will provide a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative dialogue, COMSTECH says
UAE-Pakistan trade pact in ‘final stage of signing,’ envoy says in address to Lahore chamber
- UAE ambassador tells business leaders Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement near signing
- Chamber cites $7.8 billion remittances from UAE in 2024, urges broader cooperation beyond petroleum trade
ISLAMABAD: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday quoted the UAE’s ambassador as saying the Emirates and Pakistan were in the “final stage” of signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to enhance trade and remove obstacles.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close economic ties, with the Gulf state serving as one of Islamabad’s largest trading partners and a major source of remittances. Trade between the two countries currently stands at around $8–10 billion, according to figures from the LCCI, while millions of Pakistanis live and work in the UAE. A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, a broad trade framework aimed at reducing tariffs, easing market access and strengthening investment flows, would formalize and potentially deepen those ties.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber, UAE Ambassador Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi said the CEPA would help remove business obstacles and deepen economic ties between the two countries.
“Pakistan and the UAE are at the final stage of signing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which would significantly boost bilateral trade and remove business obstacles between the two countries,” Al Zaabi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Lahore Chamber.
He added that the existing trade volume of around $8–10 billion did not reflect the full potential of the relationship and his government had a “clear directive” to double the figure as soon as possible.
Al Zaabi said the UAE was expanding investments in Pakistan in sectors including infrastructure, ports, aviation, agriculture, minerals and railways.
He said discussions with Pakistan’s Railway Ministry were progressing and that new agreements related to supply chain connectivity from northern regions to Karachi, including the possibility of a dry port, would be announced soon. He added that the Joint Business Council between the two countries was being activated and efforts were underway to convene its meeting to enhance institutional cooperation.
The UAE ambassador also outlined steps being taken to streamline visa procedures and improve skilled labor mobility.
Referring to the visa process, Al Zaabi said both countries were working to streamline procedures through digital systems and appreciated the efforts of Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, according to the LCCI statement. He said discussions were underway with the Punjab Skilled Labor Authority to enhance cooperation in skilled workforce mobility.
He added that he was “personally working at operational and technical levels to ensure that all signed agreements, including CEPA and other trade frameworks, are fully implemented.”
The envoy said the UAE was rapidly shifting toward an artificial intelligence-driven and digitized economy, with nearly 99 percent of government services available online.
Highlighting his country’s focus on information technology, digital banking and innovation, the ambassador invited the Lahore Chamber to share a comprehensive document outlining challenges and investment opportunities. He said the UAE Embassy would consider recommendations from the business community and extend facilitation to investors from both sides, adding that special consideration would be given to visa recommendations forwarded by the Chamber for genuine business cases.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Pakistani community to the UAE’s development, particularly in aviation and finance, and noted that the UAE economy had diversified, reducing oil dependence to below 25 percent.
LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol described the UAE as one of Pakistan’s most important trading partners in the Middle East and a major source of remittances.
He said remittances from the UAE reached $7.8 billion in 2024, while Pakistan’s exports to the UAE stood at $2.1 billion in the 2024–25 fiscal year. Imports from the UAE were around $8 billion, largely consisting of petroleum products, according to the Chamber’s statement.
The figures highlight a persistent trade imbalance, with Pakistan importing significantly more from the UAE than it exports, even as millions of Pakistani workers live and work in the Gulf state.
Saigol said there was “vast untapped potential” for cooperation in renewable energy, agriculture and food processing, information technology, logistics, construction, tourism, health care and mining. He proposed establishing dedicated display centers for Pakistani products in the UAE, leveraging the country’s role as a global re-export hub, and called for stronger engagement through trade delegations, business-to-business meetings and joint ventures.
