Islamabad
A 4 day “ANSO–COMSATS Conference on Artificial Intelligence Enabled Solutions for Sustainable Water Governance, Security and Safety” has been inaugurated today in Islamabad.
Under the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) scheme for grant for scientific activities, the Conference is organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS).
The Conference has been endorsed as an Official Activity of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD) 2024-2033, led by UNESCO. Hosted at the COMSATS Centres of Excellence, the COMSATS University Islamabad, the Conference’s collaborating organizations included Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; National Research Centre, Egypt; Global Climate-Change Impact Studies Center, Pakistan; and Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources.
Rana Ahmad Atteeq Anwer, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for S&T and IT&T, Government of Pakistan, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The Coordinator emphasized that water systems are under unprecedented stress from climate change, rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, population growth, and pollution.
Recalling Pakistan’s devastating floods of 2022, he noted that many developing countries are faced with prolonged droughts, groundwater depletion, and deteriorating water quality.
He shared with the audience, Government of Pakistan’s comprehensive water-security agenda, including implementation of the National Water Policy, water harvesting and other sustainable measures.
He underlined the need for a national cohesive approach. He congratulated Executive Director COMSATS, his team, ANSO, and all partner institutions, for holding this critically important event.
Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria appreciated ANSO and the collaborating partners for their support. In the face of water related challenges faced globally, the conference was strategically significant and AI has a role as transformative force, he asserted. He highlighted that the Conference directly supports SDG-6. He did not discount the implications either.
The Conferences featured technical presentations, hands-on trainings on AI tools, panel discussions, and technical visits. Amb. Zakaria paid tribute to the Nobel Laureate Prof. Salam for his vision of COMSATS.
Prof. Dr. Raheel Qamar, Rector CUI, highlighted the importance of emerging technologies, such as AI and cloud computing. He stressed the need for ethic based approach for AI and insisted on the element of human loop in AI solutions. CUI’s recent initiatives of digitalization and paper-less office environment, aimed, inter alia, conserving resources and protect environment.
Dr. Zhijun YI, Deputy Executive Director, ANSO, expressed his organization’s confidence in COMSATS activities and acknowledged the collaborating organizations’ support. He highlighted ANSO’s commitment to international scientific cooperation, joint research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange for sustainable development.
The Conference inaugural Ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Zimbabwe and senior diplomats from COMSATS Member States. It attracted participation of Experts from Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Jordan, Jamaica, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Over 50 in-person participants belonging to various Pakistani organizations and over 100 online participants are taking part in the event.
