Al Jazari Water & Sanitation Academy

1st International Conference on Sustainable, Smart and Climate-Resilient Water Systems (IC-SSCWS) 2027

AJWA is a training and research institute of the Punjab Water & Sanitation Authority, working under HUD & PHED, Government of Punjab, dedicated to capacity building and innovation in the WASH sector.

The 1st International Conference on Sustainable, Smart & Climate-Resilient Water Systems (IC-SSCWS) 2027 provides a platform for researchers, academicians, practitioners, policymakers, development partners, utility professionals, and industry experts to present innovative research, exchange knowledge, and discuss practical solutions to the evolving challenges of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector. The conference welcomes original research papers, technical papers, case studies, review articles, and innovative practices that contribute to the advancement of sustainable and resilient water systems.

The conference is organized around six thematic areas that reflect the critical priorities of the water sector at both national and international levels. These themes encompass emerging issues in water resources, sanitation, climate resilience, governance, public health, and smart utility management while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across engineering, environmental sciences, hydrology, GIS, computer science, public health, economics, finance, law, urban planning, and other related disciplines.

Themes & Sub Themes

1. Water Supply & Resources

Groundwater assessment, recharge, and aquifer management
Water sources, desalination & aquifer aging
Surface water hydrology and watershed management
Water security, scarcity, and demand forecasting
Hydrogeological and geophysical survey methods
Integrated water resources management (IWRM)
Water supply network planning and hydraulic modeling
Materials & techniques in water supply
Water supply hydraulics and modeling
NRW and water leak management (water audit & DMAs/DMZs development)

Sanitation system performance (design & development)
Wastewater treatment systems and technologies
Fecal sludge management
Water reuse and recycling (rainwater, drinking water & wastewater)
Materials & techniques in sanitation systems
Wastewater modeling & techniques
Circular Economy in water systems (reuse & recycling)

Climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructures and Climate Financing
Impact of climate change on WATSAN sector
Environmental impact
Ubiquitous / Water Sensitive Cities and urban water-sensitive design
Urban flood management & prevention
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Early Warning Systems
Nature Based Solutions (NBS) and Green Infrastructure

Effective & innovative provisions for sustainable WATSAN services
Public-sector financing and its linkage with service delivery
Centralization / decentralization
Legal and regulatory frameworks for water and sanitation
Assessment of policy implementation efficacy
Tariff structures and cost recovery models
Urban and rural water inequalities
Groundwater Governance

Contaminant detection and emerging pollutants
Household and point-of-use water treatment effectiveness
Risk assessment & mitigation for water related health hazards
Emerging pollutants including microplastics, and pharmaceuticals
Public health outcomes of sanitation interventions
Social behavior & public perception of water, sanitation & hygiene
Water-Energy-Food Nexus

Asset Management, GIS and Remote Sensing applications in WATSAN sector
Carbon Neutral Water Utilities
Utility performance benchmarking, monitoring and water labeling
Applications & impact of Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, Predictive Analytics and machine modeling
Smart sensors and real-time water monitoring networks (SCADA & IoT)
Electro-mechanical systems and pumping efficiency
Energy audits and renewable energy integration in utilities

Patron

Maryam Nawaz Sharif

Chief Minister, Punjab

Chief Guest

Maryam Aurangzeb

Senior Minister, Punjab

Guest of Honor

Bilal Yasin

Minister for HUD&PHED

Special Guest

Chaudhary Sher Ali Khan

Chairperson Punjab WASA

Chairperson

Noor-ul-Amin Mengal (SI)

Secretary HUD&PHED, Punjab

Co-Chair

Tayyab Farid

Director General, P-WASA

Lead WATSAN

Ghufran Ahmad

MD WASA, Lahore

Convener

Dr. Souman Khalid

Principal, AJWA

Lahore; the host city

Lahore, the cultural heart of Pakistan, is a city where centuries of history, architectural grandeur, and vibrant traditions come together to inspire innovation and progress. Renowned for its magnificent heritage landmarks—including the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shalimar Gardens—Lahore has long stood as a symbol of resilience, learning, and hospitality. Equally significant is the city’s enduring relationship with water. From the historic River Ravi that once flowed beside the Mughal citadel to the remarkable Shah Nahr canal system that supplied the iconic Shalimar Gardens through an advanced gravity-fed hydraulic network, water has shaped Lahore’s identity, urban planning, and cultural landscape for centuries. Today, as the host city of the 1st International Conference on Sustainable, Smart and Climate-Resilient Water Systems (IC-SSCWS) 2027, Lahore provides a fitting backdrop for global dialogue on the future of water management.