Over the past years sanitation remained a neglected sector in Pakistan as almost 30 percent population in rural areas and 65 percent in urban areas have an access to proper sanitation facilities, said Wajid Hussain Bukhari, caretaker Federal Minister for Environment, Local Government and Rural Development, on Tuesday.
He was addressing the participants of 'Conclave of Community Led Total Sanitation Activists' here. The event was organised by Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation Programme, Rural Support Programme Network (RSPN), Unicef and Water Aid.
The Minister said that only 0.1 percent of GDP was being spent on sanitation and water supply which is not sufficient to meet the targets of providing proper sanitation facilities.
However, government framed a National Sanitation Policy in 2006. Currently work is going on Clean Water Policy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whereby the number of people without sustainable access to improved sanitation will be reduced by half, by the year 2015 and 100 percent population will be served by 2025 with improved sanitation, he added. "I am confident enough to assure you that the government will achieve its sanitation goals before 2015," said the minister.
Ministry of Environment is cognisant to the fact that sanitation is a provincial subject. Provincial governments are responsible to draft their own sanitation policies while TMAs are responsible for implementation of sanitation projects. Provincial governments and the government of AJK and Northern Areas initiated the work on the strategies with support of Ministry of Environment and developing partners. National Sanitation Policy is being used as framework of guidelines by these governments, he said.
The minister said, "Provinces have made substantial progress in developing their sanitation strategies. Sindh cabinet has ratified Provincial Sanitation Policy while Balochistan's policy has been widely consulted and ready to put to the cabinet for approval."
Wajid Hussain Bukhari, caretaker Federal Minister for Environment further said that Punjab's sanitation policy has also been widely consulted and ready to present to Chairman Planning and Developing Board. NWFP Policy is in the consultation process, whereas AJK and NA governments are also working on their drafts.