Islamabad: In a significant step towards improving the management of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has commenced work on the country’s inaugural National WASH Accounts. This initiative, developed in partnership with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, aims to create a unified national database to support climate-resilient and sustainable service delivery.

According to Press Information Department, the project is supported by WaterAid, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, targeting persistent data deficiencies that have hindered effective planning and coordination in the WASH sector. Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, the ministry’s media spokesperson, emphasized that this will be the first comprehensive national framework to monitor water and sanitation services across Pakistan.

The new system will enable federal and provincial authorities to produce standardized data, facilitating investment tracking, service delivery monitoring, and public fund oversight. The accounts are expected to provide a detailed overview of services, helping policymakers allocate resources effectively to underserved areas.

Federal Secretary Aisha Humera Moriani highlighted the initiative’s potential to improve transparency and accountability while equipping Pakistan to build climate-resilient water and sanitation services. She noted that the integration of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, would enhance data collection and reporting accuracy.

The initiative aligns with Pakistan’s broader development goals and supports the country’s commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which advocates for universal access to safe water and sanitation.