In order to effectively engage its water issues, Pakistan must develop indigenous expertise on the matter. Currently, two of Pakistan's most prestigious universities, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS: http://www.lums.edu.pk/undergraduate_programmes/programmes.php) and the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Scienes and Technology (GIKI: http://www.giki.edu.pk/Academics/Undergraduate/index.htm) lack environmental science/engineering departments and offer no degrees in or related to hydrology.

With home-grown experts, Pakistan can rely less on foreign bodies like the World Bank for water security advice and can breathe new life into its frustrated government bodies dealing with the water issues which, as I mentioned in a previous blog (http://www.onearth.org/my-onearth/citizen-journalism/view/1600), are desperately in need of skilled scientists and engineers. With a new work force geared to take on the water challenges being faced by the country, Pakistan will start paving the way towards increased water security.

Currently, the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources holds technical training programs (http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk/Training/Schedule%20TTC-26.pdf); such initiatives need to be linked with educational instituitions, creating a seamless network between universities and governmental agencies. Human resource development is essential, and steps are finally being taken in this direction (http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk/HRD.aspx).

While Pakistan should utilize international help and honor its collobarations (http://www.pcrwr.gov.pk/collaborations.aspx), its ultimate goal should be developing indigenous human resources to tackle its water challenges.