South Asian conference on sanitation from November 21

The Ministry of Environment will organise the 2nd South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-2005) on November 21-23, 2005 in Islamabad. Besides, an exhibition would be organised on the sidelines of the Conference to offer an opportunity to manufacturers, developers and other stakeholders' organisations to showcase their related products and services.
Sources said here on Tuesday, the conference would be organised with the support and co-operation of Action Aid Pakistan, DFID, International Water Association, Mercy Corps Pakistan, Plan Pakistan, UNDP, Unicef, Water Aid, Water and Sanitation Programme-South Asia, and WHO/Ministry of Health.
The sources said the conference would be held to meet the government of Pakistan's obligation under the Dhaka Declaration.
The 1st South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-2003) was held on October 21, 2003, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The goal of the moot, which was the first of its kind in the region, was to accelerate the progress of sanitation and hygiene in South Asia so as to enhance its peoples' quality of life.
The SACOSAN-2003 sought follow up action on the Millennium Development Goals and the commitments made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
One of the key outcomes of the Conference was the Dhaka Declaration whereby the participating countries committed to "organise a SACOSAN meeting to be held every two years with ministers, heads of agencies, development partners and other actors with potential to introduce and sustain a viable regional co-operation for sanitation.
In this connection the first of these events is being hosted by Pakistan in 2005, and the second would be hosted by India in 2007.
The overall goal of the second conference was to accelerate the progress of sanitation and hygiene work in the South Asia so as to enhance its peoples' quality of life in fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals and the commitments made in the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the sources added.
Presentations and discussions on "Country Situation Papers" by the parties to the Dhaka Declaration, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka would be held.