FCCU hosted a two-day, 2nd Consultive Workshop on Scientific and Sustainable Application of Groundwater Treatment Technology for Safe Drinking Water Supply in Punjab, Pakistan
On October 23-24, 2023, The Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), hosted a second workshop at FCCU for its project entitled “Scientific and Sustainable Application of Groundwater Treatment Technology for Safe Drinking Water Supply in Punjab, Pakistan”. The project is funded by the Government of Korea under Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Government of Pakistan through the Economic Affairs Division and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan. This project received funding of 1.2 million USD for a period of three years from Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). For this project, FCCU is the main implementing institute in Pakistan in collaboration with Dankook University (DKU), South Korea.
This flagship water treatment technology project is awarded to a private university with a focus on research and community service. The project is focused on piloting water treatment techniques from a lab scale to the field to serve the marginalized communities in the province. Areas worst affected in terms of contamination and lack of access to safe drinking water supply systems are prioritized for setting up water filtration plants. Especially marginalized communities of the Punjab will be benefited from this project by provisioning safe drinking water, and it will be instrumental in achieving Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals 6 on clean water and sanitation.
A Korean delegation of eight people came to participate in this workshop. Korean Ambassador Mr. Ki Jun Park graced the event with his presence. Around 220 participants including researchers, students, government officials, and individuals from public-private organizations attended the event. The ribbon cutting ceremony was honored by Mr. Ki Jun Park and the curtain unveiling of the “Water Analysis Centre” — established under this project was graced by Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton, Rector FCCU.
Dr. Derk Bakker, Head of the Department (Environmental Sciences) inaugurated the event followed by congratulatory remarks by Mr. Ki Jun Park, Dr. Woonsun Kim (Vice President KIPA-Korea), Syed Zahid Aziz (CEO-Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority) and Mirza Habib Ali (Pakistan Science Foundation). This continued with a word of thanks by Dr. Jonathan S. Addleton — highlighting the importance of bilateral relations between Korea and Pakistan under this project and the significance of this grant for FCCU and Pakistan to solve drinking water issues. He appreciated the efforts of the research team of the project.
Moreover, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between FCCU and Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (PAPA) to strengthen their collaboration for the successful implementation of the project in the field. Dr. Seok Dockko (Professor Dankook University, Korea) presented the project progress. Speakers of this workshop were researchers from different organizations of Korea and Pakistan namely Mr. Wonyeong Han (KIPA), Mr. Minsoo Park (IPLAB), Dr. Shazia Ilyas (FCCU), Dr. Ambreen Alamdar (Health Services Academy), Dr. Habib Ur Rehman (PCRWR), Dr. Syed Ali Musstjab Akber (COMSATS, Islamabad), Dr. Muhammad Shahid (COMSATS-Vehari), Dr Muhammad Bilal Shakoor (University of Punjab), Dr. Abida Farooqi (Quaid-e-Azam University) and Bushra Azhar (FCCU).
Korean delegates and researchers from FCCU also visited a village in Kasur where arsenic contamination is affecting local people’s health and well-being.
