Pakistan has embarked on developing its inaugural national database dedicated to monitoring water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, marking a significant advancement in public health and climate resilience efforts. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has partnered with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to establish this comprehensive system, known as the ‘National WASH Accounts.’
This pioneering project, supported technically by WaterAid, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, aims to fill persistent data gaps that have hindered effective planning, financing, and coordination of WASH services at the national level. Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, the ministry’s media spokesperson and WASH policy advocacy expert, highlighted that this initiative represents Pakistan’s first move toward a unified national framework for tracking water and sanitation services across the country, a crucial step toward evidence-based governance.
The new system is designed to enable federal and provincial authorities to gather standardized, current data on service delivery, investments, and public expenditures. Saleem Shaikh emphasized that the National WASH Accounts will provide, for the first time, a detailed national overview of access to clean water and sanitation, facilitating better identification of underserved regions and more efficient resource allocation.
Incorporating advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, the platform will enhance data collection, verification, and analysis processes. Aisha Humera Moriani, Federal Secretary for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, described the initiative as a transformative moment for Pakistan’s WASH governance. She noted that fragmented and outdated data had long impeded effective planning, and that a unified system would promote more accurate decision-making and improved coordination among provinces.
Moriani further stated that the initiative will boost transparency and accountability while helping Pakistan develop climate-resilient water and sanitation services amid increasing environmental challenges. It is expected to establish a foundation for more effective policymaking and stronger institutional responsibility nationwide. Additionally, the project will enhance Pakistan’s ability to report on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims for universal access to safe water and sanitation.
Aligned with the government’s broader development strategies, including URAAN Pakistan and the 5E framework of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, this initiative is poised to significantly strengthen the country’s water and sanitation sector.
