The 7th Karachi International Water Conference (KIWC), themed “Water, People, Health – Coping with the Floods,” brought together scientists, policy experts, social entrepreneurs, academics, and youth in a powerful exchange on Pakistan’s most pressing challenges – water security, public health, and climate resilience.

Organized in collaboration with the Karachi School of Business and Leadership (KSBL), the event emerged as one of the year’s most dynamic forums for exploring how communities can adapt to the growing threat of floods and climate-induced disasters.

A Call for a New Water Ethic
Opening the conference, Simi Kamal, Founder and Chairperson of the Hisaar Foundation, set the tone with a compelling keynote that urged a rethink of global development priorities.

“This is a clarion call to return to nature-based solutions,” she said. “It’s time we shift from Think Global, Act Local to Think Local, Act Global.”

Her remarks framed the conference’s purpose – to rethink how Pakistan manages its precious water resources through inclusive, locally driven strategies.

Nadira Panjwani, Founder and Managing Trustee of the Panjwani Charitable Foundation and Trusts, traced the evolution of the Panjwani–Hisaar Water Institute, now one of Pakistan’s leading research centers in the field. Former Chairperson Ashraf Kapadia reflected on two decades of water advocacy and social impact, while Sanaa Zulfikar Causer, External Relations Director, revisited the conference’s journey since its inception in 2013.

Citizens Speak: A Charge Sheet Against Society
One of the most striking sessions, “Citizens’ Commission on Floods: Impact on Water, People, and Health,” chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain, transformed the hall into a stage for national introspection. A short film asked a piercing question:

“Aap hamare liye kaisi duniya chhor kar ja rahe hain?” – What kind of world are you leaving for us?

Speakers including Ehsan Leghari, Rafay Alam, Yasmeen Qazi, Afia Salam, and Noman Ahmed dissected Pakistan’s recurring flood crises and the widening gap between knowledge and action. Javed Jabbar emphasized empowering local governments to play a decisive role in flood management, while Mushahid Hussain cautioned that Pakistan still responds to disasters with “three Cs – Condolence, Compensation, and Commitment from donors,” a cycle he warned cannot replace long-term resilience.

Exploring Water for People, Health, and Justice
Under its three main streams – Water for People, Water for Health, and Water Justice – the conference hosted thought-provoking sessions on urban drainage, child stunting, water-borne diseases, and the role of private and public sectors in mitigating flood impacts. Panels featured leading experts such as Dr Pervaiz Amir, Dr Akissa Bahri, Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Dr Fazilda Nabeel, and Dr Sonia Murshed, who offered policy insights, research findings, and case studies from across South Asia and beyond.

The discussion on Urban Drainage and Floods, chaired by Dr Sarosh Lodhi, spotlighted Karachi’s long-neglected infrastructure issues, while Dr Qaisar Sajjad led a panel on child stunting, calling it “a silent national emergency.” Sessions under the Water Justice stream tackled the human dimension – from the economic toll of floods to questions of fairness and accountability in resource management.

Café of the Unheard: Youth Voices Take Center Stage
A highlight of the conference was the “Café of the Unheard,” co-moderated by Simi Kamal and Talha Jatoi, where young environmentalists and experts sat side-by-side in open roundtable dialogues. In an atmosphere more café than conference, participants exchanged ideas on governance, technology, and environmental justice. Rapporteurs captured each table’s insights, culminating in a collective set of youth-led recommendations that will feed into future policy advocacy.

Celebrating Indigenous Wisdom and Women’s Leadership
Other standout sessions included “Putting People First – Indigenous Water Wisdom”, chaired by Dr Akissa Bahri, which emphasized the importance of traditional ecological knowledge in modern water planning. Meanwhile, “Water for Human Rights and Prosperity – Building Women’s Leadership” showcased inspiring female voices – among them Farzana Yaqoob, Prof. Dr Robina Farooq, and Dr Abida Farooqui – who shared success stories from community-based initiatives across Pakistan.

A dedicated session on “Sanitation – The Forgotten Part of WASH”, chaired by Kamran Naeem, addressed one of Pakistan’s most overlooked public health challenges, calling for renewed policy focus and investment in sanitation infrastructure.

Closing on a Note of Commitment
The closing plenary, moderated by Sanaa Zulfikar Causer, explored innovative collaborations and grassroots institutionalization. Speakers Tofiq Pasha Mooraj, Shabina Ayaz, Aijaz ul Haq, and Dr Muhammad Tufail underscored the need for integrating local wisdom with scientific research.

A milestone achievement was the signing of an MoU between the Panjwani Hisaar Water Institute and the University of Southern Punjab, paving the way for academic cooperation in sustainable water management. In a symbolic finale, Simi Kamal presented the “Living Charter for Water and People”, a document outlining shared principles for equitable and sustainable use of water resources.

As the event drew to a close, participants left with a sense of renewed purpose – to build not only resilient systems but also resilient communities.

A Platform for Change
The Karachi International Water Conference did more than spotlight the water crisis; it became a platform for collective reimagining. By bringing together policymakers, private sector leaders, and passionate youth, it reaffirmed that the path to water security begins with listening, collaboration, and action rooted in local realities.

In a country where floods have become an annual reckoning, the message was clear: “Pakistan must move beyond reaction and embrace prevention – transforming its water challenges into opportunities for a sustainable, equitable future.”