On February 13, 2025, the National Institute of Public Administration, Lahore, hosted Mr. Ashfaq Mahmood for a lecture on “Water Issues of Pakistan”.

He discussed Pakistan’s water resources, highlighting challenges such as climate change, glacial melt, and limited water storage capacity, with a particular focus on the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) in managing inter-provincial water distribution. Despite the 18^th Amendment devolving water management to provincial authorities, IRSA continues to regulate water allocation. The speaker emphasized the need for efficient water usage, including modern irrigation techniques, and proposed solutions such as rainwater haveresting, wastewater recycling, and building small dams. He stressed the importance of political ownership and effective governance with recommendations for improved transparency, implementation of water policies, and increased public awareness to address Pakistan’s looming water crisis.