ISLAMABAD June 10 (APP): The Economic Survey 2018-19 released here on Monday shows that Pakistan is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 6 i.e. Clean water and sanitation aims to provide safe drinking water to 95 percent of the population and access to safe sanitation to 72 percent of the population by the year 2030. Currently the national base line for safe drinking water is 36 percent and for sanitation is zero percent. The indicators in national data sets for WASH: Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) were reviewed and aligned with Sustainable Development Indicators 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3.1.
According to survey the access to improved drinking water sources (piped, hand pump, motorized pump and closed well) is 89 percentage, available when needed (24 hours available at premises) is 77.5 percent, basic service is 53 percent (basic services but not free from contamination) contamination is 36 percent. The lowest figure of all three that is free from contamination is 36 percent, which is the baseline figure of safely managed water in Pakistan in 2018.
According to the Pakistan Forestry Outlook Study total area of forests in the country is 4.34 million ha (5.01 percent), out of which 3.44 million ha forests exist on state-owned lands and remaining on communal and private lands. Annual consumption of wood (timber and fuel wood) is estimated at 44 million cubic meters whereas annual growth of natural forests is 14.4 mm3, resulting in overexploitation of forest resources. Moreover, sole dependence of forest-owning local communities on this resource for livelihood is reported as main cause of deforestation. The contribution of forest in GDP is 0.4 percent. Under Millennium Development Goals (Goal-7), Pakistan had committed to increase forest cover to 6 percent, which could not be achieved mainly due to financial constraints of federal and provincial governments. Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from either bilateral or multilateral sources has also declined drastically impeding government policies and plans to bring additional lands under tree cover.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan has reinforced the commitment of government for creating an enabling environment for water and sanitation through launching of Clean Green Pakistan Movement (CGPM) in October 2018, showing the highest level of political commitment. The CGPM will seek institutional strengthening for effective service delivery and behavioral change for sustenance and continuity for the accessibility and availability of safe water and sanitation to the people of Pakistan.
VNS Islamabad
