Pakistan to launch 2008 as International Year of Sanitation
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—In line with the United Nation’s declaration of 2008 as International Year of Sanitation, Pakistan would be formally kicking off its activities with the formal launch of the Year on Tuesday.
United Nations General Assembly at its session had declared 2008 as International Year of Sanitation with the overall objective of accelerating progress on sanitation to help save lives and foster economic and social development.
Caretaker Minister for Environment, Syed Wajid Hussain Bukhari would launch the IYS-2008 embarking on a comprehensive plan to accelerate the ongoing efforts for improving the sanitation situation in Pakistan.
The Plan envisages the finalization and approval of the provincial sanitation strategies and action plans, dissemination of hygiene messages focusing on hand washing with soap, construction and use of latrine and use of safe water among 20% of Pakistani population.
The plan also focusses on provision of improved sanitation facilities to people as 60% of the country’s population presently lack access to the improved sanitation and finalization and approval of the National Drinking Water Supply Policy by the Cabinet and development of action plan for its implementation.
The targets, in the context of the International Year of Sanitation-2008, also include raising the profile of sanitation and to affirm the government’s commitment to this global issue and to mark commencement of activities.
Taking cognizance of fact that nearly 2.6 billion people around the world lack access to basic sanitation services, 42,000 people die every week due to diseases related to poor water quality and inadequate sanitation and this inadequacy is contributing to the deaths of about 1.5 million children around the world every year.
In Pakistan about 91 million lack access to improved sanitation, 48% of schools do not have access to a toilet facility and the total annual cost of diarrhoeal diseases alone is estimated between Rs. 55 billion to 84 billion.
The Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-7, set by the United Nations, also includes the target of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to basic sanitation.
The Governments of South Asian Countries has reaffirmed this target by adopting a Islamabad Declaration at the 2nd South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN-II) organized by Ministry of Environment in Pakistan in September 2006.
Access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities is also an integral part of progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in particular those involving the education, gender equality and the reduction of child mortality and poverty.
Sanitation is a good economic investment as every dollar spent on sanitation not only improves hygiene and protect environment, but also saves between $3 to $4 in health bill which may be spent on education and social and economic development.
Led by Ministry of Environment, the national launch of the IYS-2008 will bring together other government and global partners including the United Nations, World Bank, international and national NGOs and the civil society organizations.