Lahore, February 02, 2026: The Centre for Integrated Mountain Research (CIMR), University of the Punjab, New Campus Lahore, observed World Wetlands Day 2026 by organizing a seminar under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Saima Siddiqui (Director, CIMR). The seminar was aligned with the global observance of World Wetlands Day and aimed at highlighting the significance of wetlands in climate change adaptation, water security, and sustainable development.

On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Saima Siddiqui (Director, CIMR), Engr. Dr. Muhammad Yaseen (Assistant Professor, CIMR), Dr. Syed Umair Shahid (Assistant Professor, CIMR) and Dr. Saira Batool (Assistant Professor, CIMR) were present. Prof. Dr. Saima Siddiqui welcomed the guest speaker and briefed the participants on the importance of World Wetlands Day. They emphasized the need for conservation and sustainable management of wetland ecosystems to address emerging environmental challenges.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Akif Rahim, Climate Change & Adaptation Specialist, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Lahore. In his address, Dr. Akif Rahim highlighted the pivotal role of wetlands in regulating hydrological cycles, mitigating floods and droughts, conserving biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. He stressed that wetlands are critical natural assets for climate change adaptation and underscored the need for evidence-based decision-making, integrated water resource management, and effective institutional coordination to address wetland degradation in Pakistan.

Dr. Rahim also emphasized the severe impacts of droughts on wetlands, noting that prolonged dry periods lead to reduced water availability, loss of habitat for aquatic species, decline in water quality, and disruption of ecosystem services. He highlighted that droughts not only threaten biodiversity but also undermine the livelihoods of communities dependent on wetlands for agriculture, fisheries, and water supply. On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, he called for urgent action to strengthen wetland resilience through sustainable water management, restoration initiatives, and adaptive strategies to safeguard these vital ecosystems against the growing threat of climate-induced droughts. On this event he also introduces and teaches about the use of application of “Pakistan Drought Management System (PDMS)” for the assessment and prediction of future droughts.