ISLAMABAD, Sep 07 (APP):A three-day intensive training programme on sustainable water governance and water security began at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat on Monday, bringing together policymakers, water experts, researchers and development practitioners to explore practical responses to growing water scarcity and climate-related pressures across OIC member states. The programme is being held under the umbrella of the OIC General Secretariat and OIC-COMSTECH, in collaboration with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research …
OIC launches three-day water security training at COMSTECH as 16 member states face critical stress
ISLAMABAD, Sep 07 (APP):A three-day intensive training programme on sustainable water governance and water security began at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat on Monday, bringing together policymakers, water experts, researchers and development practitioners to explore practical responses to growing water scarcity and climate-related pressures across OIC member states.
The programme is being held under the umbrella of the OIC General Secretariat and OIC-COMSTECH, in collaboration with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and Hisaar Foundation.
The training focuses on integrated water resource management, climate-smart irrigation, transboundary groundwater governance, pollution control, digital technologies, data-driven decision-making, innovative financing and partnerships for water security.
Addressing the opening session, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokar described the initiative as timely, saying a significant number of OIC countries were increasingly exposed to water insecurity, climate change, environmental degradation and pressure on natural resources.
He said the deliberations and recommendations emerging from experts and participants would be acknowledged and could contribute to developing practical approaches for cooperation among OIC countries.
He reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat’s support for knowledge-sharing and technical collaboration to address common water challenges.
SESRIC Director General, Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk said water stress had become one of the most pressing development challenges facing the Islamic world. Citing the OIC Water Report 2025, she noted that 16 OIC member states were currently experiencing critical levels of water stress.
She said the outlook required urgent and coordinated action, with projections indicating that by 2050, 17 OIC countries could face extremely high water stress and another 10 high water stress. She stressed the importance of efficient water use, data-driven policymaking, innovation and stronger cooperation among member states.
OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said water security was now inseparably linked with food security, public health, agriculture, climate resilience and sustainable economic development.
He said scientific cooperation among OIC countries needed to move beyond dialogue towards sharing technologies, expertise, data and workable solutions. Greater use of artificial intelligence, remote sensing, digital water-management systems and evidence-based planning could help countries manage increasingly constrained water resources more effectively, he added.
Prof Choudhary said COMSTECH would continue to bring together scientists, policymakers, universities and international development institutions to develop practical responses to water and climate challenges, particularly those requiring regional and cross-border cooperation.
Over the three days, experts will examine water governance practices in South Asia and other regions, climate-smart irrigation technologies and approaches to managing shared groundwater resources, including lessons from the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin.
Sessions will also address the impact of industrial pollution and climate change on surface and groundwater, community participation in water governance, citizen science and the incorporation of local knowledge into public policy.
A dedicated segment on data-driven water management will cover simulation modelling, geographic information systems, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications.
Experts will also discuss SESRIC water dashboards and UNESCO water-data platforms for planning, monitoring and climate resilience.
The final day will focus on designing effective water policies and projects, financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and innovative models to improve access to safe drinking water, particularly in African OIC member states.
Experts and representatives from the Islamic Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Water Facility, International Water Management Institute, UNESCO, SESRIC and other national and international organisations are expected to contribute to the technical sessions.
The programme will conclude with discussions aimed at developing a strategic water cooperation roadmap for OIC member states, including recommendations on technical cooperation, water financing, transboundary resource management and stronger institutional partnerships.
Certificates will be awarded to participants at the conclusion of the training programme on Wednesday.
