USPCAS-W Celebrates 6th Graduation Ceremony at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology

The U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET) celebrated its 6th graduation ceremony with the 27th annual Convocation of MUET. The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Ms V. Kate Somvongsiri, USAID Mission Director, along with Ms Rachel Grant, USAID Director, Consulate Presence Unit; Ms Sarah Pervez, USAID Senior Representative for Sindh and Balochistan; Mr Saqib Ahmed Khan, Democracy Rights and Governance Specialist (USAID); and Mr Hafeez Samo, Education Specialist (USAID). They were accompanied by Prof. Dr Tauha Hussain Ali, Vice-Chancellor of MUET, and Prof. Dr Kamran Ansari, Director of USPCAS-W, as they toured the center’s state-of-the-art facilities.

Prof. Dr. Kamran Ansari called upon the graduates of USPCAS-W to receive their degrees. Accompanied by the distinguished guests, Prof. Dr Tauha Hussain Ali awarded degrees to 21 Master’s students specializing in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Hydraulics, Irrigation & Drainage (HID), Environmental Engineering (ENVE), and Water, Sanitation & Health Sciences (WaSH).

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali congratulated the graduates and their families in his address. He emphasized the center’s cutting-edge infrastructure and ongoing research, which continue to thrive even after the conclusion of the USAID project funding. The center, now recognized as the National Water Center of Pakistan, was established with generous support from USAID and technical assistance from the University of Utah and the University of Colorado. It boasts six state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the latest technology, which are pivotal in supporting students and researchers nationwide.

Since its inception, USPCAS-W has produced 14 PhDs and 249 MS scholars, with many alumni pursuing higher studies in the USA and employed in government and corporate sectors. The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged the support from the Government of Sindh in establishing a girls’ hostel during the USAID project. USPCAS-W has introduced a BS program and remains focused on applied research, particularly in water sustainability (SDG6) and climate change. The centre has completed 100s projects, with 18 ongoing projects covering a wide range of portfolios such as Climate Change and Food Security, Impact Analysis of Drought and Floods, Soil and Water Salinity, Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, Groundwater Modelling, Water, Sanitation and Health, Irrigation and Agriculture, GIS, Circular Economy, and municipal services. The center also offers training, certifications, and diplomas to various stakeholders, including government officials from Sindh and Balochistan, and maintains active liaisons with stakeholders.

During the ceremony, Ms. Kate Somvongsiri addressed the graduates, emphasizing their role as future leaders of Pakistan. She praised the center’s resilience and growth since the end of USAID funding in 2019, recognizing USPCAS-W as a world-class hub for research and innovation. Ms Somvongsiri also expressed her admiration for the center’s ongoing efforts to tackle Pakistan’s pressing development challenges, particularly those related to climate change and water management.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding degrees to the graduates, along with traditional gifts and shields presented to the honourable guests by Prof. Dr Tauha Hussain Ali and Prof. Dr Kamran Ansari. Distinguished attendees included Prof. Dr Arabella Bhutto, Vice-Chancellor of SABS University; Chief Engineer Mr Jamal U Din Mangan, PD SWAT; Chief Engineer Mr Ghulam Muheudin, PD Sindh Barrage Improvement Project; Mr Qabool Khatian, Chairman SIDA; Mr Mehmood Nawas Shah, President of Sindh Abadgar Board; Dr Hina Hussain Kazmi, Chief of Party HANDS (WGS Project); Mr Lachman Das, Registrar MUET; Prof. Dr. Rizwan Memon, Dean MUET; Engr. Syed Muhammad Raza Shah, Controller of Examination MUET; along with officials from the Irrigation and Agriculture departments, esteemed faculty, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

USPCAS-W remains committed to excellence in education, research, and capacity building, driving innovation and sustainable development in Pakistan.