Multan: The Punjab government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Agriculture, Climate and Water (ACWA) Punjab Consortium, aimed at strengthening climate and water information systems across the province.
The first meeting of the ACWA Punjab Consortium was held under the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-supported project, Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management, co-financed by the governments of Punjab and Sindh.
The consortium provides a formal framework for collaboration among the Punjab Planning and Development Board, Agriculture Department, Irrigation Department, Environment Protection and Climate Change Department, and Punjab Information Technology Board, with FAO providing technical support.
The initiative builds on a Letter of Intent signed by FAO and the Planning and Development Board in May 2024. The MoU was approved by the 36th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Cabinet on Legislative Business and Privatization on June 9, 2026, following consultations with stakeholders and vetting by the Punjab Law Department.
Under the FAO-led climate-resilient agriculture project, 24 Automatic Weather Stations have been installed-15 in Punjab and nine in Sindh-along with Eddy Covariance towers, canal-flow sensors and groundwater-monitoring sensors in target districts. Data generated by these systems is fed into the ACWA Portal, designed to support decision-makers in planning, policymaking and resource management.
Officials said the consortium would help ensure the sustainability of the portal beyond the project period by establishing mechanisms for data governance, institutional coordination and long-term maintenance.
Punjab Planning and Development Board Secretary Rafaqat Ali said reliable and timely information on climate, agriculture and water resources was increasingly important for the province’s development planning. He said the consortium would provide a shared platform for evidence-based decision-making and improve the management of natural resources amid growing climate pressures.
FAO Pakistan Officer in Charge James Okoth said the consortium demonstrated strong provincial ownership and institutional coordination. He added that FAO would continue to provide technical support in line with Pakistan’s development priorities.
The GCF-funded project covers five districts of South Punjab-Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan-and three districts in Sindh. It focuses on strengthening water-accounting frameworks, assessing groundwater availability under future climate scenarios, and deploying real-time climate and water monitoring infrastructure.
