Pakistan is making good progress in protecting its environment. Two important projects under the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination will be completed by June 30, 2026. These projects focus on better water quality monitoring and safer rules for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The first project, “Capacity Building on Water Quality Monitoring and SDG-6 Reporting,” costs Rs1.289 billion. It received Rs102 million from Pakistan’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and $7.42 million in support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project has upgraded 45 laboratories in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with modern equipment and trained staff. It also created a Water Quality Management Information System and mobile testing labs. Over 250 laboratory workers received training. The project helped make standard operating procedures and supported the National WASH Policy.
These steps will help Pakistan track clean water progress under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-6). Better monitoring means safer drinking water and stronger environmental protection for the people.
The second project, “Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House (Pak-BCH),” costs Rs200 million. It helps Pakistan follow the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The project acts as a national system for approving, monitoring, and regulating GMOs. So far, it has issued 870 import permits for genetically modified soybeans and 129 for GM canola. It earned more than Rs1.5 billion in fees. The team also updated biosafety rules and guidelines in 2024 and prepared for a permanent National Biosafety & Regulatory Centre.
Both projects show Pakistan’s efforts to improve environmental governance, meet international promises, and build a cleaner, safer future. Their completion will strengthen water management and biosafety systems across the country.