PESHAWAR (Khyber Mail): The Center for Intelligent Systems and Networks Research (CISNR) at UET Peshawar recently orchestrated a one-day workshop with the aim of involving specific municipalities in Abbottabad and Mansehra, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) region. These municipalities had previously experienced successful implementation of the SCADA system, thanks to the guidance provided by CISNR. The workshop was generously funded by REEE-SCALE, GIZ – Pakistan.
During the event, Professor Dr. Gul Muhammad Khan, the Project Director, unveiled the transformative potential of IoT (Internet of Things) technology and its wide-ranging benefits for municipalities across Pakistan. Dr. Khan emphasized how IoT technology can accumulate valuable data, revolutionize decision-making processes, and streamline the planning and execution of innovative technologies. This, in turn, would save time, energy, and precious municipal resources.
Mr. Rehan Yousaf, the honored Chief Guest and CEO of the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) in Abbottabad, commended GIZ, CISNR, and the municipalities for their collaborative efforts in the project. He underscored the SCADA system’s potential to empower cities. He explained that this technology would enable municipalities to identify and rectify existing shortcomings within their systems, ultimately leading to more efficient monitoring and achieving rapid, effective results.
Mr. Asher from REEE-SCALE GIZ shared that GIZ has been conducting training programs on digitization and SCADA systems for the past 2-3 years, with plans to expand these initiatives for municipalities across Pakistan. Furthermore, he encouraged the municipalities in focus to partner with GIZ by sharing their success stories and documented accomplishments.
During an interactive session within the event, participants emphasized the vital role of the government in educating municipalities about new technologies and granting them greater autonomy to foster innovation within their respective regions.