Water Center of MUET and Irrigation Department sign MoU of Rs. 41 Million
U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering & Technology MUET) and Sindh Irrigation Department signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 41 million rupees on “Capacity Building of Officers/ Officials of Sindh Irrigation Department”. Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, Vice Chancellor MUET, and Syed Zaheer Hyder Shah, Secretary Irrigation Department singed the MoU, at the latter’s office. In MoU signing ceremony, Dr. Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, VC MUET said that with the generous support of American People under the auspices of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USPCASW- the water Center has been established in MUET after competitive process.
He said that Center is technically supported by University of Utah, offers unique combination of higher education and applied research in water engineering with strong emphasis on research –policy interface. Dr. Uqaili said that the Center will produce 250 water experts having managerial and leadership capabilities to solve the contemporary problems of water issues in Pakistan.
He said that this agreement will contribute in University-Industry-Government framework which represents triple helix model of effective relations among all of three sectors. He said that the MoU aims at to build the capacity of irrigation department’s officials but in order to achieve collective good; the relationship will work beyond the agreement and MUET through the Center will strive for research and reforms in the irrigation department. Syed Zaheer Hyder Shah, Secretary Irrigation Department, Government of Sindh, said that this MoU is the first of its kind on the part of the government, which is conceived in current Annual Development Plan (ADP) by any of the Sindh Government Departments.
He said this agreement will provide the framework for cooperation in promoting, participating, and delivering post graduate and short programs and conducting trainings for the capacity building of irrigation department. He said that officials who are working in managerial and operational levels of the department will be trained according to their needs. Mr. Shah said that these trainings on the latest scientific methods to be provided by USPCAS-W MUET to officers of the department, will enhance their knowledge and skills in the field of hydraulics, drainage, early warning and flood control management in the province. Dr. Bakhshal Khan Lashari, Project Director of USPCAS-W said that water center of MUET is a state-of-the-art center which is equipped with modern water laboratories to carry on applied research on water sector in Pakistan. He said that water issues of the country will be solved by developing human capital in the sector which will bring prosperity among the people by boosting the economy of the country. He said that under the MoU the Center has already conducted five-day training workshop for the officials of irrigation department on “Hydraulic Modeling using HEC-RAS” under this five year MoU, of which agreement is being singed on that day. He further said that water governance issues in the province will be mitigated by strengthening the managerial as well as technical capacity building of the officers concerned through this MoU. Dr. Kamran Ansari, Deputy Director USPCAS-W, Engr. Zarif Iqal Khero, Engr. Ahmed Junaid Memon of Irrigation Department, Prof. Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar, Prof. Dr. M. Munir Babar and other managerial staff of USPCAS-W and Sindh Irrigation department attended the MoU agreement ceremony.
