Water safety, monitoring and surveillance: new approach to help tackle water quality issues, says Afridi

The concept of water safety planning, water quality monitoring and surveillance will ensure supply of safe water to the inhabitants of earthquake-hit areas and has a great potential of being replicated in other parts of the country.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi while addressing the completion ceremony of UNICEF's water, environment and sanitation project in earthquake affected areas here on Thursday. "Pakistan is confronting environmental challenges and UNICEF is contributing sincerely to its efforts," said the minister, adding that new approach of safety, monitoring and surveillance of water is a major shift from tradition to tackle water quality issues.
Afridi further said that rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities by UNICEF, in collaboration with Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) also funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands has made significant contributions in providing clean drinking water and improving health and environment of earthquake-hit population. He said that promotion of hygiene, household water treatment methods and capacity building of water management committees in 1,350 villages have provided a real sense of community participation and will lead to sustainable water supply schemes in remote areas.
Afridi further said that on October 8, 2005, the country was hit by a devastating earthquake causing immense damages in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in particular. About 73,000 people were killed and millions left without basic necessities of life. No doubt it was a large scale catastrophe and bringing life back to the normal was a big challenge but UNICEF and other national and international community contributed sincerely, which made the infrastructure reconstruction in the earthquake affected areas easy. Deepak Bajracharya, Deputy Representative and Chief of Field Operations, UNICEF, Umer-Al-Hattab, Chief WES, UNICEF and Lieutenant General Muhammad Haroon Aslam, Deputy Chairman ERRA were also present on the occasion.