TABLE OF CONTENTS Note from 02 the Chairperson Introduction 04 Governance 08 Think Tank on the Rational 13 use of Water Recommendations for 16 Pakistan’s National Water Policy Framework Universities for Water 21 Network Creating Partnerships 23 Developing Solutions 26 Emergency Support 34 Ramazan Appeal 36 Advocacy & National 37 Engagements International 42 Engagements Third Karachi International 44 Water Conference: The Future of Water Donors and Partners for 47 2016 & 2017 Acknowledgements 48 Note from Chair of Hisaar Foundation he Hisaar Foundation journey of suc- The Universities for Water Network (UWN), cess continues. Two years hence and we a brainchild of collaboration between NED Tcan proudly look back and clearly see University and Hisaar Foundation is going the footprints of accomplishments trailing us. from strength to strength as its membership These two years have been full of excitement expands. The benefits of collaboration on aca- and growth for the foundation and from the demics and research on water is beginning to look of what is to follow, we will continue in the take seed which will not only provide the intel- same vein for the next few years. This was all lectual depth we require but also offer the stu- made possible due to the guidance and sup- dents in Pakistan an option to pursue a career port of our Board of Governors and fellow in water studies and management. travellers who generously gave of themselves Our programmes and projects gained momen- either through their association with the HF tum in the last 2 years with increased pres- Think Tank, through Universities for Water Net- ence at the grassroots level. Karachi and Thar work or by their donations. continue to be our main focus areas with more It will be apt to recount some of the recent and more small infrastructure and drinking past achievements as it provides us all with a water supply facilities and systems related sense of fulfillment and a forecast for what the projects being implemented. During this time future beholds for us. our projects became more innovative and cost efficient with the advent of solar technology Certainly, the establishment of Hisaar and greater use of green solutions. Foundation’s Think Tank on the Rational Use of Water was a major milestone in our jour- Hisaar Foundation initiated the series of bi-an- ney. In the last two years, we have debated, nual international water conferences in 2013 argued over, built consensus and produced and is now holding its Third Karachi International the full framework for a national water policy Water Conference. We aspire that this grows in – dubbed the ‘citizens’ water policy’ by various the form of major international water confer- stakeholders. This was successfully launched ences like the ones held annually in Stockholm with a series of events in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Singapore. While we are not quite there, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. This depth we hope to have germinated an idea whose of dissemination resulted in greater awareness time has come and soon this will become a and alertness in the government circles for a major event in the water calendar in this region. need for not only a national water policy but The achievements of Hisaar Foundation work for provincial water policies. We are pleased would not have been possible without the active to report that at least three provincial govern- and ongoing backing of some of our diehard ments; Punjab, KP and Sindh have galvanized supporters. This includes the Old Associates of themselves in preparing and announcing such Kinnaird Society (OAKS), Engro Foundation and a policy in the near future. HF Think Tank can United Bank Limited. We have new partners rightfully take some credit for this urgency and and sponsors, The Asia Foundation, Akbar cognizance about water issues and policy. 2 Hisaar Foundation 2016-2017 Note from Chair of Hisaar Foundation Associates Group, Hope Uplift Foundation and scale – government, corporate sector, business Golden Harvest. But above all it is the individual and trade, academia and non-profit sector. and small institutional donors that have been Let me finish on perhaps the most exciting most outstanding and it is their commitment development in the history of its brief existence. that keeps Hisaar a unique ‘citizen’s organiza- The pioneering streak of Hisaar Foundation tion’ fired by the power of volunteerism. team members visualized that one day this Voluntary giving, whether it be money, time, small beginning will result in the establishment assets or effort is the hallmark of Hisaar of a water institute. This dream of Hisaar Foundation, whether it is the time of our very Foundation and its team is now about to committed board members, the expertise so become a reality. We are pleased to announce freely shared by the members of the Think that in collaboration with NED University and Tank, the cash and in-kind support from a host Panjwani Charitable Foundation, a water of institutions, or the time and efforts of the institute to be called Panjwani-Hisaar Water universities within the UWN, where the meet- Institute will be built on a piece of land gen- ings are rotated among universities. It is hard erously offered by NED University. This will be to believe that this network is run without major both a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary institutional donor funding, and that instead an institute, perhaps first of its kind in this region. ethos of coming forward to offer facilities and Amen share costs prevails. And we remain true to our three overarching values – creating partnerships among stake- holders, developing solutions, and emergency Zohair Ashir support. We continue to test and deliver Chairperson water solutions in Thar, in schools and in public spaces. We provide support during calami- ties and emergencies anywhere in Pakistan. We update guidelines for conservation of water, engage with and educate media, build and support the voices of women, youth and marginalized communities. All our outputs are available to the public, to government and to institutions across the board. We have contributed with passion and relent- less effort to build intellectual capital, consen- sus, academic excellence and practical appli- cations for the future of water in Pakistan. We are now ready to engage with partners to go to Working towards a Water Secure Future 3 Introduction ver the last fifteen years, Hisaar Foun- dation with its work on water, food and Olivelihood security has emerged as a thought leader and innovator in the water sec- tor of Pakistan. Hisaar Foundation has estab- lished itself as a premier organization on water with its strategic initiatives such as the Think Tank on the Rational Use of Water, the Univer- sities for Water Network and the Karachi Inter- national Water Conference which is held every two years. The Think Tank on the Rational Use of Water works on policy and strategy, the Uni- versities for Water Network links research and practice and the Karachi International Water Conference provides a unique and neutral platform for water stakeholders from all sec- tors, both national and international to come together to discuss, deliberate and debate on water issues. Hisaar Foundation also continues to enhance and strengthen its programmes that focus on building partnerships, providing emergency support when needed and devel- oping and providing low-cost solutions with rel- evance to Integrated Water Resources Man- agement and the water-food-livelihood nexus. Hisaar Foundation was established as a non- profit entity and a section 42 company in of 2016 and as part of its dissemination cam- January 2003 and completes 15 years at the paign, the Think Tank has held launch sessions end of this year. Hisaar Foundation is led by a of this report in Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, visionary and dedicated Board of Governors Islamabad and Peshawar. As a result of these that hail from many disciplines and diverse consultations, governments of Punjab, KP and professional backgrounds who steer the Sindh have started the process of drafting a Foundation’s strategic initiatives and anchor its provincial water policy. project and programmes on the ground. The Universities for Water Network (UWN) cur- The Hisaar Foundation Think Tank on Rational rently comprises of nine member universities Use of Water, commonly referred to as the across Pakistan. The UWN has developed a compendium of all water related universities ”HF Think Tank” was established in 2014 as an that offer degrees, departments or disciplines outcome of one of the declarations from our related to water, and a database of water pro- 2013 International Water Conference. The Think fessionals and academics of Pakistan as well Tank is a multi-stakeholder platform which has as a database of research institutes that work worked diligently in producing thought leader- on water in Pakistan. Hisaar Foundation’s stra- ship in key issues of water. As part of its role it tegic initiatives (Think Tank and UWN) consoli- has held wide ranges of consultations with the date the intellectual underpinnings for dealing key stakeholders as part of its consultative and with Pakistan’s water challenges now and in advocacy function in many parts of Pakistan. the future. Its signature achievement to date is the pub- Another flagship initiative of Hisaar Foundation, lication of “Recommendations for Pakistan’s is the bi-annual Karachi International Water National Water Policy Framework” in 2016, Conferences that bring together stakehold- which is now recognized as the first “Citizens” ers from across the world and across the Water Policy. This was launched in October water sector, from government and elected 4 Hisaar Foundation 2016-2017 Introduction representatives to business and corporate sectors, academia, media, civil society, NGOs and INGOs, women, citizens, water manag- ers and professionals, representatives of water institutions and youth.