LAHORE: (Tuesday, June 03, 2025): Punjab University Institute of Space Science Associate Professor and Space Scientist Dr Khalid Mahmood unveiled ‘Rain4Drinking’, an open-source global platform, at the UN High-Level Meeting on Space-Based Water Solutions. Designed to tackle drinking water scarcity in underserved regions of the world, the initiative leverages satellite data for indigenized rainwater harvesting. This tool helps remote communities enabling them to assess storage tank size and type, indigenized annual water cycle, required filtration and its regional low-cost solutions, project feasibilities at government levels and its cost benefit analysis. In his address, Dr Mahmood said water scarcity is a crisis of equity, not just resources. By harnessing space technology and open collaboration, we can democratize access to sustainable water solutions. He said that this platform is not just about tanks and filters, it’s about giving communities like the Samburu and Malagasy people the tools to build resilience using their own knowledge and locally available materials. He said that the UN’s commitment to space-based innovation makes this the ideal launchpad for global impact. He said that the initiative, developed in response to urgent reports from African communities, leverages satellite data and localized engineering to empower governments, NGOs, and residents to implement scalable rooftop rainwater collection and purification systems. Dr Mahmood’s proposal directly aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for All) and emphasizes community-driven adaptation.