On Wednesday, 26^th July 2023, Mr. Ashfaq Mahmood, Former Federal Secretary, Water & Power, addressed during a lecture on “Water Issues of Pakistan”, to the participants of the 33^rd SMC.

During his intellectual discourse, Mr. Ashfaq Mahmood emphasized the importance of water as an important resource and the national attitude towards this precious resource. He mentioned that in the coming future in wake of the global climate change, if no corrective measures are taken at all levels of storage, conservation, and recouping aquafer besides changes in usage patterns, Pakistan is going to be a severely water-stressed country. He explained the present-day position of water resources, utilization, and reservoirs’ capacities. He discussed problems related to Indus Water Basin Treaty, IRSA and inter-provincial water disputes.

In the last part of his talk, he explained international water management in advanced countries and their experiences with the settlement of these disputes. In the question-and-answer session, he replied to questions ranging from national behavior to international approaches toward the issue.