12 May 2009 – The Nation
KARACHI: Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP), an initiative of Agha Khan Planning and Building Service Pakistan (AKPBSP), was declared as one of the 12 winners of the Dubai International Award for Best Practices (DIABP). This is the first ever social project from Pakistan to receive this prestigious award in the 14 years history of DIABP. The award is sponsored by the Dubai Municipality, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler of Dubai, in partnership with UN-Habitat.
WASEP was selected from a list of nearly 500 international submissions by the Award’s Technical Advisory Committee. With an objective to supply integrated water supply infrastructure and preventing the incidence of water-related diseases, WASEP has provided potable water and installed over 9,200 latrines in 250 villages, benefiting over 200,000 people across the country.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), WASEP has reduced incidences of diarrhoea reported in local health centres by at least 25 per cent, while at the household level the reduction has been approximately 60 per cent. In his address to the audience, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman Dubai Municipality, said that the award reflects the policy and commitment of Dubai government and the United Arab Emirates towards sustainable development of the human settlements and protection of the environment on the basis of mutual international cooperation.
“The award seeks to encourage and recognise outstanding human achievements and experiences, to raise awareness on best practices that can improve lives of the marginalised people, and transfer them to other societies. This award also provides an opportunity to all government organisations, the private sector, local authorities and civil society organisations to take part and present pioneering works and projects in this field”, said Eng Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality.
In Pakistan, like many countries of the developing world, inadequate quality and coverage of water and sanitation infrastructure is a major issue and is duly reflected in that fact that nearly 30 per cent of reported illnesses and 40 per cent of deaths in Pakistan are attributed to water-borne diseases.
For AKPBSP’s WASEP, the award was received by Shukur Perver, a beneficiary of the Water and Sanitation Program in Gilgit and Hafiz Sherali, AKPBSP’s chairman.
Ismailimail 