Water·Energy·Food NEXUS – Agenda for the 21st Century

4th Karachi International
Water Conference

26th & 27th November 2019
Marriott, Karachi, Pakistan.

in association with:

Programme at a Glance

4th Karachi International
Water Conference

26th & 27th November 2019
Marriott, Karachi, Pakistan.

in association with:

Programme at a Glance

The Centrality of
Water-Energy-Food Nexus

The centrality of the Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus is now recognized as an appropriate analytical tool, a measure for reality check and as a strategy for practical outcomes. The demand for water, energy and food is increasing, driven by a rising global population, rapid urbanization, changing diets and economic growth. Agriculture remains the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources, and more than one-quarter of the energy used globally is expended on food production and its supply. As the world gears up to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, thinking in terms of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus is the need of the hour.

The Centrality of
Water-Energy-Food Nexus

The centrality of the Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus is now recognized as an appropriate analytical tool, a measure for reality check and as a strategy for practical outcomes. The demand for water, energy and food is increasing, driven by a rising global population, rapid urbanization, changing diets and economic growth. Agriculture remains the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources, and more than one-quarter of the energy used globally is expended on food production and its supply. As the world gears up to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, thinking in terms of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus is the need of the hour.

Message from His Excellency the President of Pakistan,

Dr. Arif Alvi

Pakistan is facing a water crisis and some forecasts have predicted dire consequences to our socio-economic lifeline unless we urgently devise appropriate strategies on water. As the President of Pakistan, I have chosen water as one of my main areas of focus and keenly support initiatives aimed at providing short and long term solutions to Pakistan’s water problems.

We live in a time, where our children are rightfully holding us accountable for our mistakes in failing to take care of the environment. They expect us to protect natural resources and leave them a legacy on which to build a water sufficient society with equitable rights and obligations. Pakistan’s water problems are part of global trends and I make a special appeal to all the stakeholders , especially the international water experts, academics and professionals to engage with us in open and wide ranging water discourse. Your views and experiences will help us in developing an effective water strategy to cope with Pakistan’s water challenges.

I am pleased to learn that Hisaar Foundation has chosen water linkages with food and energy as the main theme of this conference. I look forward to inaugurating the 4th Karachi International Water Conference – Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Pakistan’s Agenda for the 21st Century – on November 26th and November 27th, 2019.

In particular, we would like to welcome our international delegates and experts to this conference and assure you that you will find the discourse and this event useful and informative.

I congratulate Hisaar Foundation for arranging this biennial conference which has become a signature event in not only Pakistan’s water calendar but also on the global scene.

The president has kindly consented to inaugurate this international conference

The Genesis & Growth of KIWC

The Karachi International Water Conference (KIWC) takes place in Karachi every two years. Over the past six years, it has evolved and attained a position of prominence as a “must attend” major water event in the region. The Conference provides a neutral platform for people from all walks of life to come together and engage in discourse, deliberations and debate a wide variety of water related topics, challenges, issues and solutions from international, regional and Pakistan perspectives. Participants share insights, knowledge, research findings and innovations.

From modest beginnings in 2013, when the first conference was attended by about 700 delegates mostly from Karachi, The conference has grown in size and stature and now elicits interests from far and wide. The Third Karachi International Water Conference was attended by over 1200 delegates from Pakistan, South Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. From local organizations to multi-nationals, to bilateral and multilateral bodies; prominent personalities in the water sector have attended the previous conferences. We expect the profile of the conference to be raised further with greater involvement of governments and practitioners from energy, renewable energy, agriculture, food and nutrition sectors.