Dr. Hifza Rasheed, the Director General of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), emphasized the critical importance of water resources management and underscored the need for technological innovation to address current challenges in the country. The occasion was the inauguration of the Intelligent Irrigation Technology Promotion Center at the PCRWR R&D farm in Sialmor.
During the ceremony, Dr. Rasheed briefed participants on the National Water Policy of 2018, highlighting its priorities related to water resources management. She also detailed various initiatives undertaken by PCRWR in this regard. Commending the collaborative efforts of PCRWR and BIDR, China, in introducing smart irrigation technology in Pakistan, Dr. Rasheed expressed optimism that it would accelerate the adoption of water-efficient technologies in the irrigation sector.
Bareerah Fatima provided insights into PCRWR’s research infrastructure, emphasizing different agro-ecological zones and changes in water resources availability and use. She stressed the importance of transferring tested technologies to address Pakistan’s water challenges.
Mr. Liu Hairui, Vice President of China Water Resources Beifang Investigation Design and Research Co. Ltd (BIDR), highlighted various water management initiatives by the Chinese government. He expressed optimism that the collaboration would yield positive outcomes in enhancing crop productivity and effective water management at the farm level.
The ceremony concluded with the joint inauguration of the Intelligent Irrigation Technology Promotion Centre by Dr. Hifza Rasheed and Mr. Liu Hairui. This center is expected to play a crucial role in advancing water-efficient technologies in the field of irrigation.
