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ISLAMABAD,
Oct 18 (APP): Ministry of Environment is making concerted efforts to achieve the
targets set for International Year of Sanitation-2008 through a multi-pronged
policy. Working in
collaboration its partners like UNICEF, RSPN, PPAF, Water Aid, WSP-SA, USAID and
others, the Ministry has prime focus on four targets set for IYS-2008.
The
targets one and two include; Finalization and approval of Provincial
Sanitation Strategies/Action Plans by the respective Cabinets, and
dissemination of hygiene messages focusing on hand washing with
soap, construction and use of latrines and use of safe water amongst
at least 20% population (33 million). Other two
targets, three and four, include provision of improved sanitation facilities to
at least 6% of the country’s population (700,000 HHs) over and above the
existing, and finalization and approval of National Drinking Water Policy by the
Federal Cabinet and development of action plan for implementation.
The
Ministry has expressed confidence to meet the targets by the end of year as
number of activities were already underway and more areas were going to be
focussed till the year ends.
“The
Balochistan Provincial Cabinet has already approved the provincial sanitation
policy and strategy while in other provinces, the strategies are in the process
of approval,” said Director General Environment, Javed Ali Khan. “Strategies for
AJK and FANA have also been prepared.”
For target
two, he mentioned to major campaigns to disseminate hygiene message with support
of UNICEF, USAID Pakistan Safe Drinking Water and Hygiene Promotion Project,
RSPN and other partners.
A
Sanitation and hygiene week was observed in collaboration with Ministry of
Health and UNICEF and dissemination material was distributed among stakeholder
during inauguration of IYS and special supplements were published to aware
masses on better sanitation.
Number of
training workshops, seminars and conferences have been held across the country
to aware people on the harmful impacts of poor sanitation.
Dissemination materials like leaflets, booklets, guiding manuals, banners,
audiovisual CDs were also made available during walks, talk shows, quiz
programs, competitions and campaigns through electronic and print media.
To meet
target three, Javed Ali Khan said the concept of Community Led Total Sanitation
(CLTS) in communities is being scaled up by training community mobilizers
throughout Pakistan in collaboration with the stakeholders by launching campaign
for creating open defecation free environment followed by incremental
improvement through integrated solid and liquid waste management system for
implementation of National Sanitation Policy.
Hundreds of
community activists from cities like Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad, Haripur, Lakki
Marwat, Chitral, Sukker, Mithi, Umerkot, Dadu, Jamshoro, already trained by
UNICEF, Khushhal Pakistan Fund and PPAF and WSP-SA, have implemented sanitation
related schemes among communities.
DG
Environment said, Local Governments and NGOs are also providing such facilities
while projects approved earlier were also being directed to create open
defecation free environment in their project areas.
To meet
target four, he said, the Ministry has already formulated Draft National
Drinking Water Policy and National Drinking Water Quality Standards. As the
Draft National Drinking Water Policy is being revised, surface water quality
standards are also being prepared.
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