‘Agricultural Water, Energy and Hazard Management in the Upper Indus Basin for Improved Livelihood’, a special project in Upper Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan to enhance community livelihood through agricultural water management and to reduce community vulnerabilities to natural hazards, was undertaken by ICIMOD 15 January 2016 at Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources’ (PCRWR) headquarters in Islamabad.

The project is being implemented through lead partner World Wilde Fund (WWF). Co-partners PCRWR will implement agricultural water management activities, Karakoram International University (KIU) will draw situational analysis on energy, water and hazards, Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) will implement soft structural measures and Gilgit Baltistan Forest, Wildlife and Environment Department will implement vegetative measures for hazard management.

The partnership agreement between PCRWR and WWF was signed by Dr Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman, PCRWR and Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF. Dr Abdul Wahid Jasra, Country Representative ICIMOD – Pakistan, Muhammad Mudassar Maqsood, Associate Coordinator ICIMOD and Dr Babar Khan, Head WWF (Gilgit) witnessed the occasion.

Under the agreement, PCRWR will demonstrate the efficient utilisation of Hunza River water by integrating solar powered water lifting with water harvesting ponds and micro irrigation systems. This will not only increase the land and water productivity but will bring more area under irrigation to enhance community livelihood.

ICIMOD is facilitating the strategic partnership between PCRWR and WWF for a wider conversation cum development of water resources in Pakistan.

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