Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Senior Expert from Iran visited ECOSF and discussed the collaboration on water related issues in ECO region

Go Back

An Iranian Delegate Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Senior Expert of International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures (ICQHS) – a UNESCO Category II Center visited ECOSF on 25 November 2019 along with Science Officer of UNESCO Pakistan Syed Raza Shah and other officials of UNESCO Pakistan and Pakistan Council of Research on Water Resources (PCRWR). The delegation was warmly welcomed at the Foundation by President ECOSF, Prof. Manzoor Soomro.

President ECOSF briefly introduced the Foundation and shared its objectives and programmes. Prof. Soomro shared that the Foundation carries out impact based research in prioritized areas of energy, water, food security and health. The water is amongst the top priorities of the Foundation. President ECOSF also shared that science education at grass root level is very essential; hence, ECOSF has been promoting and implementing STEM education through Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) methodology in ECO region to develop critical thinking among the young generation. Foundation believes in working together and strong collaboration, and it has established partnership with number of leading organization around the globe to promote STI in the ECO region. The access to clean and drinking water is essential but the clean water resource is on sharp decline throughout the world. ECOSF has been working with various national, regional and international organizations, including UNESCO to address this issue in the region, he added.

Earlier, Science Officer of UNESCO introduced Iranian expert and expressed that ECOSF and UNESCO have been working on various programme and one of the programme is to rehabilitate the Karez system of Pakistan.

Dr. Khaneiki thanked President ECOSF for warm welcome and introduction of ECOSF. He appreciated the efforts and contributions by the ECOSF for economic development through STI in ECO region. He briefly introduced the core work of ICQHS, which is Category-II Center of UNESCO working on water sector throughout the world. The research projects have also been carried out in collaboration with Iranian and international organizations, he added. Dr. Khaneiki further said that they have rehabilitated Karezes and Qanats in Azerbaijan, Iraq, India and more work is underway in Iran, Pakistan and other countries.

President ECOSF appreciated the work of ICQHS and proposed that a module may be prepared by ICQHS to teach students about the karezes/qanats through IBSE methodology. The proposal was greatly admired and supported by the delegation.