Climate Resilient and Adaptive Water Allocation in Pakistan.

FAISALABAD October 31, 2025: Aussie delegation under the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)–funded project titled “Climate Resilient and Adaptive Water Allocation in Pakistan visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and called on Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali. The visit was meant to review the progress of ongoing research activities under the project and to enhance collaborative efforts toward sustainable water management in Pakistan. Launched in November 2024, the project is scheduled to conclude in June 2029. The delegation comprised Dr. Neil Lazarow, the Research Program Manager for Water, ACIAR; Dr. Munawar Raza Kazmi, the ACIAR Country Manager; Dr. Mobin-u-Din Ahmad, the Principal Research Scientist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); Susan Cuddy Senior Experimental Scientist, CSIRO; and Dr. Arif Watto (CSIRO). Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali lauded the ACIAR's contribution to Pakistan's agriculture and particularly its presence at UAF in form of ACIAR funded projects. He said that on-farm water storage was the need of hour to assist the small holder farmers better manage their water supply. He assured full support of UAF for the project activities and any future activities of ACIAR. He appreciated team’s dedicated efforts and underscored the importance of on-farm water management and efficient irrigation practices to address emerging water scarcity challenges under climate change. During the session, Prof. Dr. Asif Kamran, In-Country Socioeconomic Lead, briefed the delegates on the project’s socioeconomic progress, while Dr. Umair Gull shared updates on the irrigation agronomy component. Dr. Neil Lazarow highlighted ACIAR’s over 40-year commitment to Pakistan and reaffirmed its continued role in capacity building and research collaboration. Dr. Munawar Raza Kazmi commended UAF’s longstanding partnership with ACIAR, noting that the current project will further strengthen ties and help smallholder farming communities better understand and manage water resources. Dr. Mobin-u-Din Ahmad emphasized that the project’s participatory design will enhance canal water reliability under changing climatic conditions, ensuring practical and inclusive outcomes. He mentioned that the project investigates the system scale both at inter-provincial and watercourse levels water distribution. Susan Cuddy, the CSIRO Senior Experimental Scientist, expressed her views about gender involvement in agriculture and how climate change imposes threat to their daily lives including burden on women amd small holders and the project activities will help strengthen the community action and empower women. The project team comprises of CSIRO team along with national collaborators including IRSA, PCRWR, UAF, SACAN, On-Farm Water Management (OFWM), and the Provincial Irrigation Departments.