ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):Water-testing equipment has been installed in 46 laboratories across Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while nine mobile water-testing laboratories have been made operational under an initiative to strengthen water-quality monitoring and surveillance. According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the project has strengthened water-quality monitoring, surveillance and management systems in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, while also strengthening institutional and policy arrangements. The initiative has …
Water-testing equipment installed in 46 labs under quality initiative
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP):Water-testing equipment has been installed in 46 laboratories across Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while nine mobile water-testing laboratories have been made operational under an initiative to strengthen water-quality monitoring and surveillance.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the project has strengthened water-quality monitoring, surveillance and management systems in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, while also strengthening institutional and policy arrangements.
The initiative has focused on building the capacity of relevant stakeholders in water-quality monitoring and testing. Technical staff of concerned federal and provincial entities have been trained and equipped with the knowledge and skills required to conduct water-quality tests and surveys.
As part of the initiative, water-quality assessments have been conducted at all filtration plants in Islamabad in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), while filters have been changed where required.
The project has also developed a country report containing recommendations for improving Pakistan’s legal and administrative systems related to SDG 6 and water resources management. An action plan has also been developed for smart water management in Islamabad’s water-supply system.
A federal-level water-quality surveillance mechanism is being established through comprehensive knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, and periodic reporting arrangements. According to the document, such a mechanism did not exist before the intervention and will contribute towards achieving SDG 6, particularly target 6.1.
The initiative is also contributing to regular reporting on drinking-water quality to improve service delivery and help devise interventions required to improve water quality in target areas and ensure access to safe drinking water.
It will also support the establishment of a Centralized Quality Assessment and Monitoring System as part of efforts towards achieving SDG 6.
According to the document, the initiative will directly benefit marginalised sections of society across urban and peri-urban municipalities and local governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a focus on improving drinking-water quality and access to safe drinking water.
The successful implementation of the project will pave the way for future collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and other national and international development partners for water, sanitation and hygiene-related projects and activities in other areas.
