The Workshop on ‘Enhancing SDG 6 Water Quality Monitoring in Pakistan’ was held at the Serena Hotel Islamabad on Thursday in the presence of Ambassador H.E Suh Sangpyo of the Republic of Korea to Pakistan, the Minister of Climate Change of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Senator Sherry Rehman and Country Director Je Ho Yeon from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
This workshop consisted of 4 sessions; involving Introduction of Enhancing SDG 6 Water Quality Monitoring in Pakistan led by KOMIR, Perspective of Water Quality Monitoring in development agenda of Pakistan by MoCC , Water Policy in Korea led by K-Water and Climate Change and Water Resource Management in Pakistan led by MoCC. The Q&A and Discussion sessions was held after each session.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is a government aid agency of the Republic of Korea (ROK), founded in 1991. KOICA implements Korea’s grant and technical cooperation of the ROK, supporting the socio-economic development of many developing countries. In 2010, KOICA opened its regional office in Islamabad, Pakistan. The office implements various projects in Transport, Energy, Water Management and Health, Rural Development.
Similarly, “Capacity Building on Water Quality Monitoring and SDG 6 (6.1) Reporting” Project was signed as agreement to extend cooperation on enhancing water quality monitoring and to improve capacity of the Government of Pakistan to achieve SDG 6 between Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) with a cost of 7.42 million dollar from 2019 to 2024.
Under this project KOICA will provide water quality testing equipment and training to PHED (Public Health Engineering Department) laboratories and enhance MIS (Management Information System) in Punjab and KP provinces.
In addition, consultation and technical suggestions on water related policy and legislative reform will be also supported through this project. KOICA works with 3 professional PMCs (Project Management Consultant; Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, K-Water and GDC Consulting) from Korea and UNOPS for laboratories equipment procurement for Enhancing SDG6 Water Quality Monitoring in Pakistan.
Further along this project KOICA conducted the Working level invitational training in Korea by K-Water last Aug 18th to Sep 6th for 9 officers from MoCC, Punjab PHED, KP PHED and PCRWR. And KOICA and will conduct the High-level invitational training and Master trainer invitational training next year.
The concept of the workshop was to build practical strategies to improve water quality and SDG 6 challenges to effectively monitor water quality and SDG-6 along with surveillance and management system.
