Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) was established in 1964 through a resolution. Now, PCRWR is a body corporate, established by Act No.1 of 2007 dated April 14, 2007. The management of the Council consists of the Board of Governors, the Chairman and the Executive Committee. Since its inception, PCRWR has played its role, as a national research organization, by undertaking and promoting research in various disciplines of water sector, more specifically, irrigation, drainage, surface and groundwater management, groundwater recharge, watershed management, desertification control, rainwater harvesting, water quality assessment and monitoring, water conservation and development of water quality improvement technologies, etc. with its Headquarter in Islamabad, its five Regional Offices/Research Centers are located at Tandojam, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Muzafarabad and Gilgit.

Mandate

The PCRWR is mandated to conduct, organize, co-ordinate and promote research in all fields of water resources engineering, planning and management, so as to optimally use the available land and water resources and to help achieve sustainability in the agricultural sector.

Governance Structure

Under the PCRWR Act 2007, the overall control, direction and superintendence of the affairs of the Council shall vest in a Board of Governors which may exercise all powers, perform all functions and do all acts and things which may be exercised, performed or done by the Council. The BOG is headed by Federal Minister for Science & Technology as its President and Federal Secretary as Deputy President besides representation from Federal and Provincial Departments, Technical Institutions, Professionals and Farmers all over the country. Further Technical and Executive Committees assist the BoG in its operation and decision making.

Chairman

Chairman PCRWR is the Chief Executive of the Council. He also acts as Secretary of the BoG.

Statutory Functions

• Conduct, organize, coordinate and promote research on all aspects of water resources, including irrigation, drainage, reclamation, navigation, drinking water, industrial water, and sewerage management and to set up national centers, wherever necessary.
• Advise the government and submit policy recommendations regarding quality, development, management, conservation and utilization of water resources.
• Develop and maintain national water resources database, for use by the planning, implementing agencies and public.
• Design, develop and evaluate water conservation technologies for irrigation, drinking and industrial water.
• Commercialize its research and development results by the sale of products, patents and services.
• Undertake contractual research and provide consultancy services to the private and public sector.
• Establish liaison and collaborate with other related national and international research and development organizations, universities and NGOs.
• Publish scientific papers, reports and periodicals, and arrange seminars, training workshops and conferences on water- related issues.
• Initiate national water quality monitoring programme, in the urban and rural areas of Pakistan and develop technologies for providing safe drinking water to the public.
• Conduct and coordinate research or desertification, drought and flood mitigation.
• Provide financial and technical support to universities and research institutions for collaborative research projects and fellowships.
• Design and develop water related technologies and items of utility for various users according to market demand and undertake design and development projects on contract.
• Undertake human resources development, through training skills related to the specialized functions of the Council.