Seminar on “Water, Sanitation, Plantation and PUAN Promotion at Water Center MUET

Water Center (USPCAS-W) Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro and Pak.-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) Jamshoro chapterjointly organized the seminar on “Water, Sanitation, Plantation and PUAN promotion at water center MUET”. This activity was a mutual engagement between PUAN and water centerto support the cause of sustainability in terms of retaining the huge investment on exchange program beneficiaries. PUAN is the world’s largest alumni network in the world with more than 29000 alumni currently across Pakistan. On other hand, water center has more than 160 exchange beneficiaries in last 4.5 years and the center exchange participants were given inclusion in PUAN last year before the general elections 2018.

This was a chapter activity lead by Mr. Mehran Khan (Lab. Engineer-water center & Executive Board member-PUAN Jamshoro) funded by US-Embassy and facilitated by water center. Mr. Mehran described the aims and objectives of the event and presented a welcome speech. He emphasized to retain the investment on exchange beneficiaries by encouraging them to be the part of PUAN and help bridge the gap between nations supporting the noble causes in a vibrant network.

In the session, both the sides shared their history and hard work and interactive session was carried out. Detailed discussions on applied research, commercialization, cost effective and eco-friendly environmental designs and models by water center were discussed after the presentation on water center by Mr. Shahid Panhwar (Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist-water center). Mr. Panhwar conducted a very informative session on work of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro not only limited to water center but also gender equity policy framework and other projects.

A very unusual project on women menstruation sanitary pads and hygiene by Ms. Marvi Sharma (WASH MS student) of the center was presented and she discussed about how she carried research on something which is even believed hard to talk about and converted her research in entrepreneur model and won the award by the University of Utah, followed by the video of the students’experience at University of Utah.

On the other hand, President of PUAN Jamshoro chapter Engr. Kazi Fahad encouraged the fresh exchange participants to get themselves registered with PUAN and work for the development  of the skillset, retaining the talents, serving the community and becoming the part of diverse culture and multi-sectorial network for healthy environment, strengthening PUAN family and ultimately the creating healthy society.

Ms. Hima Zafar (Exchange Ambassador-PUAN Jamshoro chapter) conducted a detailed session on various US State funded programs and motivated the participants.

Senior IVLP Alumnus Dr. G.A. Buriro (Prof. and Media Advisor to Vice Chancellor, University of Sindh Jamshoro) joined the seminar and uplifted the moral of youth with his continuous active involvement and motivational speech. Dr. Buriro expressed his joy to visit state of the art infrastructure and research facilities funded by USAid and the research and projects conducted by esteemed faculty under the supervision of Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar (Deputy Director-water center).

The chief guest Dr. Mahar concluded the seminar with emphasis on importance of water sanitation and plantation with the PUAN guests and all. He further expressed his joy and encouraged youth to work and serve the masses.

Souvenirs were presented to PUAN leadership. The session ended with planting the three trees in the center garden as a memory of PUAN and water center.