Water, Sanitation and Hygiene- Way Forward
Pakistan
Back ground. Creating a success story of reaching the poorest of the poor with the benefits of Safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene is closest to reach in Pakistan but not without unique challenges.
Of the developing world in general and south Asia in particular, the government of Pakistan is convinced of the benefits of approaching the problem in an integrated form.
It has to be seen that we are poor due to poor water; sanitation and hygiene facilities or the poor facilities are due to our poverty.
The National Scenario
Currently following steps are being taken to improve the drinking water situation in Pakistan.
1. National Drinking Water Policy (NDWP) is in the process of making for the last 7 years, it (The Draft) has gone through several public feed backs, expert discussions and government review, which has changed the shape of the document and it may be missing the target of helping nay body in the power to take steps one, two three and sort out the issue of drinking water quality and quantity to the poor consumer. The host department for this is the ministry of environment and EPA-Pak for final approval of the draft
2. National drinking water Standards (NDWS). Same fate as the NDWP, but we do have a standard document, issued by the Pakistan Standard and quality control authority (PSQCA) for reference purposes. These standards are not mandatory for the providers like the standards for the bottled drinking water in Pakistan. The problem with this aspect of development is that we cannot test all parameters mentioned in these standards under one roof at an affordable cost any where in the country. This part is with the ministry of science and technology and being contested by ministry of health and ministry of environment for ownership.
3. Filtration plants. While item 1 and 2 were being considered we knew that they are going to take time, and the poor consumer cannot be left at the mercy of unsafe health conditions, To provide immediate relief in form of safe drinking water for hand carrying to drink at home water filtration plants, 6000 in all, through out Pakistan are planned, funded and government is committed to install by Dec 2007. Ministry of industries is the current host of this initiative, after being switched from ministry of environment for being slow with the progress. This shift has further delayed the project. Plants already on ground are having serious issue in operation and maintenance.
4. National Water quality monitoring program (NWQMP). This program of sampling and analyzing drinking water from 21 cities scattered all over started since 2002 is on with the ministry of science and technology and four initial quality reports are issued. This initiative has helped Pakistan in identifying the water quality issue in Pakistan and locating some pollutants. However the reports are being released after year of sample collection and are too late.
5. Installation of new labs, up gradation of existing labs rehabilitation of water supply schemes. Are few of other initiatives with the ministry of science and technology?
Sanitation.
Attention is being diverted to this important component of health though late. Pakistan was host to second SACOSAN conference in Islamabad after participating in the first one at Dacca. This helped in highlighting the issue.
On ground situation is that there is hardly any drop of domestic waste being treated before dumping into fresh water (rivers and canals) or used for irrigating vegetable farms in perri urban area. About same is the fate of industrial waste.
Solid and hospital waste also needs attention.
This sector is in the domain of ministry of environment, Pak-EPA and an act to control these effluents and national standards are in place. National sanitation policy is also in place.
Water treatment technology suitable for the developing world is the need .The standards for treatment in the developed world are very stringent and the technology to treat up to that level is very costly. We in Pakistan may be looking for some viable solutions that we can afford.
Similarly disposal of solid and other wastes needs to be tackled scientifically
Hygiene.
Hygiene is also a neglected component of concern mainly due to illiteracy. Being a Muslim society will be of great help in this respect. Some awareness push will be of great help.
Strategy
As will be clear now some great efforts are on in the drinking water sector in Pakistan, though work on sanitation has a cover by documents and hygiene (both personal and environmental) has to take a start. They need to plan, however some tips are being presented here to start thinking process.
Campaign.
1.An integrated awareness campaign to target the poor and illiterate masses about the WatSan and hygiene issues needs to be designed and implemented. Though policy makers will be addressed through print and TV, yet the masses will be accessed through radio, preferably FM in local languages.
2. Campaign visit your water supply tank. Cleaning water reservoirs by the water providers and household tanks is an issue. This will be done through a national campaign.
3. Treating domestic waste and industrial waste before dumping to fresh and ground water will be campaigned.
Technical support
Almost all initiatives are held up due to lack of technical know how and priority at the decision makers level. They need to be supported which is a tight ropewalk, without damaging their self-respect
Planning and implementing strategy for this unique situation in Pakistan is a challenge but if we think with an open mind, we are very close to creating a success story of improving quality of life of the poor, Illiterate masses by reducing poverty, and disease.
For the national and global partners of water aid will be a great resource for developing this program for now and making use of this experience at the later stage.
Developing a resource center.
For the use of all stakeholders we will need to develop a physical resource center, collecting relevant literature, references and initiatives on water hygiene and sanitation in Pakistan and elsewhere. So that it become a hub of activity on WatSan in Pakistan and south Asia.
Initiative | Activity | Impact | Risk |
| 1.Awareness Campaign | Messages, discussions on FM Radio | Rural and perri urban poor, women students Know the important points on WatSan | My scare the masses |
| 2. South Asia center of excellence on WatSan | a. Building at provincial HQs b. Experts on WatSan from WaterAid c. Syllabus to teach and practice | We get indigenous water treatment technology. Trained supervisors, technicians, engineers and lab staff oratory | WA works with the partners. May not get an effective partner |
| 3.Resource center | Providing a room, and start collecting material | Acts as a hub of activity Shares knowledge and experience Avoids duplication Provides base for the center of excellence. Training of existing staff | May be a problem to organize the material in way so that it is readily available for consultation. Conference room may be too busy at times, to manage. |
