11/12/2025
𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗖𝗔𝗦-𝗪, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸–𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗼-𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 (𝗛𝗔𝗜) 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗜, 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
KARACHI (Wednesday, December 10, 2025): Experts have emphasised that the use of modern technology enables informed and timely decision-making in the larger public interest. They noted that real-time data is essential for such decisions. These views were expressed during the final workshop on the design of the Hydro-Agro Informatics (HAI) Program Phase-I, held under the auspices of the Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) Project — a World Bank–financed initiative being Implemented by Project Coordination & Monitoring Unit, Planning and Development Department, Government of Sindh in collaboration with the U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET), Jamshoro and Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, Bangladesh.
The inaugural session also featured important remarks from the World Bank. Mr Zelalem Tesfaye Mekonnen, HAI Program Lead and WRM Specialist at the World Bank, highlighted HAI's pivotal role as the project's "digital backbone" in achieving long-term climate resilience, improved Water and Agriculture Management, and sustainability through advanced technology and decision support systems. His address reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to the transformative goals of the SWAT Project.
Secretary Irrigation, Zarif Iqbal Khero, stated that the Government of Sindh consistently supports technology-driven initiatives that facilitate evidence-based decision-making, particularly during calamities such as the recent floods in the province. He added that action plans are being developed based on both historical and real-time data. He further stated that water pricing is now being implemented in letter and spirit, and that substantial revenue is being collected and highlighted that revenue from the Thar Coal Power Project will contribute to maintaining the Irrigation structure.
Water expert and former IRSA member, Ehsan-ul-Haq Leghari, noted that with the implementation of HAI, the provincial irrigation and agriculture departments will greatly benefit, provided their capacity requirements are properly aligned with the program.
Sharing Bangladesh’s experience, Malik Fida A. Khan, Executive Director of the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) and Technical Advisor to the HAI Project, delivered a presentation via video link. He said that Bangladesh has developed 26 components of its Flood Action Plan using HAI-type techniques to minimise flood losses and strengthen resilience.
In his welcome address, Mr Nazir Ahmed Memon, Project Coordinator, Project Coordination & Monitoring Unit (PCMU), highlighted the importance of adopting modern, technology-oriented practices for climate adaptation and resilience.
Mr Motaleb Hossain Sarker, Deputy Executive Director, CEGIS Bangladesh & Team Leader, HAI Phase-I, shared insights into the technical design and frameworks of HAI Phase-I. During the technical session, Prof. Dr Kamran Ansari, Director of USPCAS-W at MUET Jamshoro, provided a comprehensive overview of HAI design Phase I and explained how the HAI program will operate, including its institutional arrangements, implementation mechanism and sustainability. He confirmed the successful design of an institutional model, service frameworks, and technology architecture.
The workshop culminated in outlining a promising blueprint for Phase II, which includes: Eleven in-depth frameworks to steer the digital transformation of the water and agriculture sectors. A centralised Industry Data Center to manage all hydro-agro data. Advanced Decision Support Tools (DSTs) and dashboards for better management. Critical capabilities include flood forecasting and real-time Water Flow Monitoring. Innovative advancements, such as satellite-based crop reporting, for enhanced agricultural oversight. A user-friendly mobile application for farmers to access data and advisories directly.
The experts and attendees reached a consensus that the HAI Program has the potential to revolutionise irrigation, agriculture, and crop reporting. This advanced system will benefit not just the irrigation and agriculture departments, but also a broader range of stakeholders, including Policymakers and researchers, academia, other government bodies such as the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA), the private sector, and industry.
Prof. Dr Tuaha Hussain, Vice Chancellor of MUET Jamshoro, delivered a heartfelt vote of thanks, underscoring MUET's commitment to enhancing industry-academia collaboration. He expressed confidence that the HAI Data Center and decision-support tools would pave the way for better data access and foster evidence-based governance across Sindh and Pakistan.
We are immensely grateful for the World Bank's funding, which has made this crucial program possible and is paving the way for a sustainable future for both Sindh and Pakistan, the Vice Chancellor concluded.
The workshop was attended by Ms Simi Kamal, Chairperson, Hisaar Foundation; Prof. Dr Altaf Ali Siyal, Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University; Prof. Dr Bakshal Lashari, former Director USPCAS-W; Dr Rafiq Chandio, Director General, Bureau of Statistics; Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Director General, Agriculture, Training & Research, Agriculture Engineering & Water Management; and representatives from SIDA, KWSC, Irrigation Department, Agriculture Department, Information Department, academia, water researchers, and civil society organisations.
