Strengthening Pak-Aus Research Partnerships: ACIAR Delegation Visits USPCAS-W, MUET

The U.S.- Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology in Jamshoro hosted a high-level delegation from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The purpose of the visit was to explore ongoing collaborative achievements and discuss future strategic pathways in agricultural water management and climate adaptation. 

The delegation included Dr Suzie Newman, General Manager of Partnerships, and Dr Munawar R. Kazmi, Country Manager for Pakistan. They were welcomed by Prof. Dr Kamran Jan Ansari, the Director of USPCAS-W, along with Emeritus Professor Dr Bakhshal Lashari. The visitors participated in a guided tour of the Center’s advanced analytical laboratories and research infrastructure, highlighting USPCAS-W’s capabilities in applied research. 

Discussions focused on expanding joint research-for-development initiatives in Sindh. Both the delegates and the leadership emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing critical challenges faced by smallholder farming communities, particularly in water productivity, soil salinity management, and climate-resilient agriculture. 

The meeting reaffirmed a shared institutional commitment to leveraging USPCAS-W’s technical expertise alongside ACIAR’s longstanding agricultural cooperation to foster sustainable, science-based solutions for the Indus Basin. The meeting was also attended by the esteemed faculty and experts of USPCAS-W, including Dr Uzma, Dr Arjumand Zaidi, Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Dr Ghulam Hussain Dars, and Mr Naeem Dal.