Pakistan will meet its commitment pertaining to environment as far as Millennium Development Goals are concerned, halving the population without access to safe sanitation by 2015 with 100 percent coverage by 2025.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Environment Syed Wajid Hussain Bukhari, while inaugurating the year 2008 as "The international year of sanitation (IYS)" here on Tuesday.
Secretary, Ministry of Environment Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Jawed Ali Khan, country team leader, Water and Sanitation Programme, South Asia (WSP-SA), Farhan Sami, and Chairman of Rural Support Network Shoaib Sultan, representatives of the Federal and provincial ministries and agencies were also present on the occasion.
The minister said that in line with the IYS country plan, the provincial governments and partners were busy in accelerating the progress on implementation of the national sanitation policy.
"This can only be achieved by working proactively and in close partnership with all the stakeholders. We recognise that our policies must be proactive and financially and technically innovative", he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of Environment Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi said that the estimated annual cost of environmental and natural resource damage on account of improper water supply, sanitation and hygiene conditions in Pakistan was about Rs 112 billion, which was over 1.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Further, diarrheal diseases alone were estimated to cost Rs 55 to 84 billion annually, he said.
He said that the government under the Medium Term Development Framework (2005-2010), had set targets and allocated funds and identified measures for achieving them.
Implementation of the MTDF would result in the extension of sanitation facilities from the present coverage of 42 percent population (urban 65 percent, rural 30 percent) to three million households, thus covering 50 percent of the total population (urban 75 percent and rural 35 percent) by 2010 together with the development of wastewater treatment units, recycling systems and conservation measures in the urban centres up to district levels, he said.
The MTDF rural sanitation programmes would ensure that villages, having up to 100 households or 1,000 inhabitants and above, were provided with drinking water along with sanitation and drainage schemes by 2010, he said.
"For every dollar spent towards improving the sanitation and hygiene, between three dollars and 34 dollars is saved in health, education and social and economic development. Hence, investment in sanitation is an investment for the betterment of communities and the children", Ejaz said.
He informed the participants that "the national drinking water policy' was being finalised. In this regard, the provincial sanitation strategies and action plans were being developed, he said.
"A 'child health and sanitation week' will also be observed throughout Pakistan in April in collaboration with UNICEF and Ministry of Health, he informed the participants. He also said that the international year of sanitation would also be launched simultaneously in provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Northern Areas in conjunction with the world water day on March 20.
United Nations Resident Co-ordinator in Pakistan Dr Khalifa Bille, speaking on the occasion, said that improving sanitation was vital to human health, children growth and survival, social development, protection of environment and enhancement of women dignity and privacy.
"The United Nations will continue to work with the government to realise the Millennium Development Goals in Pakistan and throughout this year, support the government in action plans developed for the international year of sanitation", he stated.
Chief of Water, Environment and Sanitation of UNICEF Andrew Parker said that the UN General Assembly had declared 2008 as IYS to raise awareness, mobilise resources and increase commitments for tackling this global crisis.