ISLAMABAD, April 12 (APP):Minister of Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan Thursday said, South Asian countries have made remarkable progress in strengthening improved sanitation and adopted national policies and strategies for sanitation and underpinned community to take initiatives to tackle sanitation issues.
Addressing the second day of 7th International 3-day Conference SACOSAN minister said, SACOSAN has given an opportunity to South-Asian countries to learn from experiences of each other and bringing closer to safe sanitation to all.
Mushahidullah South Asia one of the most rapidly urbanized block resulting into housing and infrastructure issues and mounting increase in solid waste, water and pollution issues.
Minister said, Clean drinking water and safely managed sanitation are not only basic necessities of life but have impact on preventing needless deaths and diseases from diarrhea.
He said Pakistan is facing rapid urbanization in terms of mushroom growth of new housing schemes, commercial zones and industrialization.
While it needs to develop municipal services in line with the developing infrastructure trends and challenges to cope with the increasing population, he added.
He said Ministry of Climate change has revised the policies according to SDGs and provincial WASH sector plan have been developed indicating investment required in the next ten years and including climate resilience and disaster risk.
The participating country from the south Asia are Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Maldives.
The heads of delegations from participating SACOSAN member countries also briefed about composition of their country delegation, sanitation situation (key challenges and government commitments) in their respective countries, and their expectations from the ministerial conference.