LAHORE — Continuing it’s national Dialogue Series 2026, Shehersaaz hosted its second session, "Women and Water," at the University of Home Economics (UHE), Lahore. Building on the findings of the inaugural Rawalpindi event, the dialogue gathered public officials, academics, civil society organizations, and local community members to analyze the gendered impacts of Pakistan's accelerating water crisis and evaluate municipal governance failures.

The conference was organized under the Project for Urban Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (PUCCAR), focusing on gender-disaggregated environmental data, urban water contamination, and community-led conservation solutions.

Key Findings & Socio-Economic Impacts

Key Takeaway: Groundwater levels in major urban centers are falling by 3 feet per year, demanding immediate integration of rainwater capture infrastructure and enforceable municipal rationing.

Sector	Identified Challenge	Proposed Solution
Municipal Storage (WASA)	Rapid groundwater depletion and storm runoff waste.	Installation of underground water storage tanks and localized rainwater harvesting units.
Academic & Technological Research	Drinking water contamination and non-biodegradable waste.	Adoption of low-cost water purification technologies and eco-friendly alternatives.
Regulatory Frameworks	Fragmented allocation post-18th Amendment and legislative voids.	Enforcing strict volumetric water metering, city-level rationing, and legal inclusion of source regions (GB and AJK)

Community Action & Policy Next Steps

To promote ground-level conservation, Shehersaaz introduced "Droppy"—an educational mascot designed to teach children and communities practical water-saving habits. Leaders from WaterAid, WISE, Aurat Foundation, and WASA emphasized that long-term water security requires inclusive decision-making that integrates women, domestic workers, and marginalized groups.

The Shehersaaz Dialogue Series 2026 continues to hold its next session in Islamabad on July 23, focusing on “Housing Matters in the light of Youth” at LEADS University, Islamabad.

RAWALPINDI — Shehersaaz convened its inaugural session, on the Dialogue Series titled "Women and Water" at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi. The symposium brought together academics, development practitioners, municipal authorities, researchers, and community champions to examine the gender dimensions of water governance and outline actionable strategies for urban climate resilience in Pakistan.

Organized under the Project for Urban Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (PUCCAR), the event established a framework for evidence-based discussions on addressing water scarcity, drought, and flooding across vulnerable settlements in Rawalpindi and Nowshera.

Key Takeaway: Sustainable water management requires transitioning from superficial public awareness campaigns to long-term community ownership, backed by gender-disaggregated data and youth stewardship.

Focus Area	Identified Deficit	Strategic Solution
Gender Inclusion in Decision-Making	Women manage daily domestic water needs but remain excluded from formal municipal planning.	Enforce direct participation of women in local water management boards and governance committees.
Urban Rainwater Harvesting	Higher adoption in rural zones compared to urban centers due to behavioral barriers.	Deploy household-level rainwater collection units supported by urban municipal incentives.
Behavioral & Incentive Models	Lack of sustained, generational resource conservation habits.	Integrate practical climate stewardship into primary school curricula and introduce water/energy credit systems.

Future Trajectory

The session concluded with calls for formal partnerships between municipal authorities (such as WASA) and university researchers to design localized, gender-responsive water retention initiatives.

Following the conclusion of the Rawalpindi proceedings, the Shehersaaz Dialogue Series moves to Lahore for its second session on gender-inclusive water governance.