Nuclear science boosts Pakistan’s ability to track groundwater
Pakistan has strengthened its ability to track groundwater resources using nuclear science, enabling scientists to identify recharge sources, determine groundwater age and trace contamination pathways, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report released on Saturday.
The Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific, Hydrology and Groundwater programme has significantly enhanced Pakistan’s capacity for continuous groundwater monitoring through the application of isotope-based techniques.
This advancement has considerably strengthened the connection between scientific research and water governance, allowing for more precise and systematic observation of groundwater dynamics across diverse hydrogeological settings, the IAEA report said.
Studies undertaken through RCA-supported projects have generated reliable estimates of groundwater recharge rates, aquifer interconnections and pollution pathways in key regions such as the Indus Plain, the Quetta Valley and the Cholistan Desert.
IAEA report says RCA-backed isotope techniques help country trace water sources, age, pollution pathways
These findings have deepened the scientific understanding of Pakistan’s groundwater systems while providing essential inputs for developing long-term strategies for water resource management, the agency noted.
Before joining the programme, groundwater monitoring was not a primary focus of national hydrological investigations. Several studies were conducted using conventional methods, such as hydro-chemical analyses and physical measurements, but these approaches provided only basic information on water table depth, water quality and aquifer dynamics.
Through its participation in the programme, Pakistan has significantly strengthened its laboratory capacity for isotope hydrology. The Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (Pinstech) now hosts one of the region’s most advanced isotope analysis facilities, complemented by 12 laboratories nationwide.
Currently, Pinstech and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources work in close collaboration to incorporate isotopic data into national groundwater management models.
“This integration supports the early detection of over-extraction, salinity intrusion and other forms of aquifer stress, thereby contributing to more sustainable groundwater utilisation,” the report said.
The focus on data-driven management has fostered a stronger culture of evidence-based decision-making within national and provincial water institutions.
Policymakers are increasingly relying on isotope hydrology data to inform regulatory frameworks, resource allocation and long-term planning, reflecting a significant shift from reactive to preventive and science-informed groundwater management.
Pakistan’s participation has delivered substantial economic, social and environmental benefits.
Reference Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/2041294
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
