Karachi,: Communities in Murree and Kotli Sattiyan have benefited from a year-long initiative to improve Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) awareness and promote rainwater harvesting as a climate-resilient solution in these water-stressed regions.
The project, titled Community Mobilisation and WASH Education under Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Murree District was formally marked at a closing ceremony hosted by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (IED), in collaboration with NED University of Engineering & Technology, at AKU’s Karimabad campus. Despite receiving high rainfall, Murree and Kotli Sattiyan face chronic water shortages due to steep terrain, runoff, tourism pressure, and limited infrastructure. The Urban Unit at the Government of Punjab initiated a rooftop rainwater harvesting programme, integrating safe storage and filtration systems across more than 1,100 households (phase-I), supported through community education led by IED and NED University. Through school-based learning, hands-on activities, and community engagement, the project strengthened hygiene practices, water conservation awareness, and environmental stewardship. The initiative directly engaged 4,726 students and 220 community members, highlighting the effectiveness of an education-led approach.
“This project has offered a unique opportunity to work directly with the government. In phase one, we collaborated extensively with schools and partners such as Suthra Punjab. In the next phase, we will establish a water quality lab in Kotli Sattiyan with a focus on citizen science. Our goal is to translate these insights into actionable recommendations for policymakers.” Dr Fozia Parveen, AKU.
The closing ceremony was attended by representatives from the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and education stakeholders from Karachi, alongside representatives from NED University and AKU. Among the attendees were,
Dr Salim Virani, Vice Provost Research, AKU; Dr Farid Panjwani, Dean, IED; and Arif Hasan. Project leaders Dr Fozia Parveen, AKU and Dr Abdul Ghaffar, NED reaffirmed continued collaboration through Phase II, including plans to establish a Water Quality Laboratory in Kotli Sattiyan by AKU.
The project stands as a strong example of local partnership for sustainable and impactful climate-responsive WASH solutions in Pakistan. The organisers expressed appreciation to the Urban Unit, Government of Punjab, for entrusting them with the opportunity to lead this important initiative in Murree and Kotli Sattiyan.
