Development: South Korea to help set up water quality institute

A record of discussions was signed between PCRWR and KOICA on Tuesday, under which KOICA will provide a grant of $3 million for the establishment of the institute, construction of which would also be carried out by KOICA.

The campus of the institute will be constructed within the premises of PCRWR and its objective will be capacity building of the water supply agencies, public health engineering departments, and local governments, which at present are not duly trained to address the water quality issues related to chemical, biological and physical contamination causing serious hazards to human life.

It will be a premier institute of the country and will offer certificate and diploma courses in Water Quality Management, the press release said.


The institute will provide trained manpower for induction into water supply agencies to ensure supply of safe drinking water.

The institute will work with the government, industry, NGOs and individuals to formulate viable and environmentally sustainable solutions through knowledge-sharing and disseminating best practices.

That will highlight the crucial role played by safe drinking water in the achievement of economic and environmental goals through academic productivity, professional leadership and consulting environment, which is in line with the government policy to
develop knowledge-based economy.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mir Changez Khan Jamali, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Muhammad Aslam Tahir, Chairman, PCRWR and Jeon Jun Ho, resident representative of KOICA.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2011.