Pakistan now among 95 countries to have met sanitation MDG: UN report

[Kabira]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is one of the 95 countries that have met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for sanitation aimed at halving the proportion of the population without access to basic sanitation, said a recently launched global report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP).

According to the report, 64 per cent of the population in Pakistan now has access to sanitation compared to 24 per cent in 1990, a feat achieved by only 95 countries so far.

Pakistan is also placed among just 77 countries which have met both the drinking water and the sanitation MDG target.

The number of people defecating in the open in the country has been reduced from 46 million to 25 million during the last decade, the report says.

However, closing the gap that exists due to inequities between urban and rural residents in terms of improved access to water and sanitation services, remains a challenge, the report said.

“This is an incredible achievement,” says Angela Kearney, Unicef Representative in Pakistan, as quoted by a report on the Unicef website.

“Toilet use is becoming the new norm in rural Pakistan. A country on the road to modernity with unprecedented uptake of toilets, has met the sanitation MDG. I would like to congratulate the Government of Pakistan and its development partners on achieving this all important goal.”

Kearney said the government’s leadership and commitment to improve access to sanitation through increased investment and supporting national and provincial level dialogue on the subject, has provided the required impetus for achieving this target which will go a long way in protecting women and children as well as overall national development.

While providing a comprehensive assessment of progress made since 1990, the report also highlighted what more needs to be done to help the 2.4 billion people globally who still lack access to improved sanitation and at the same time urgently address the large disparities that exist in this context.

Despite significant progress, South Asia is still the region where the largest number of people, nearly 953 million, do not have access to improved sanitation.

It is noteworthy that earlier this year, the second Pakistan Conference on Sanitation (PACOSAN) was hosted in Islamabad where a large gathering of eminent specialists deliberated on accelerating Pakistan's move towards achieving the sanitation MDG.

Addressing the inaugural session of the conference, the President of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain highlighted that despite strong emphasis on cleanliness in Islam, lack of sanitation facilities is one of the major causes of high child mortality rate in Pakistan.

He urged all stakeholders to join hands for universal coverage of sanitation and hygiene in the country, the report said.

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Pakistan now among 95 countries to have met sanitation MDG: UN report - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[Kabira]

The number of people defecating in the open in the country has been reduced from 46 million to 25 million during the last decade, the report says.

So around 12-13% of population, still too much. More needs to be done.

 

[Donatello]

953 million people in South Asian region do not have proper sanitation
In Pakistan 25 million people openly defecate
so that leaves 953-25= 928 million people.

Now the whole population of Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal combined is about 205 million...
so 928 million-205million=723million people are without proper sanitation
Now we don't know if that is the figure for open defecation or lack of proper sanitation.....but India is the remaining country of interest here.....hmm.....i wonder what our Indian members have to say?
South Asia's largest economy and also largest population without sanitation?

@Echo_419 @Bang Galore @GURU DUTT @vinay @jamahir @Manindra

Guys your astute analysis please.

 

[Kabira]

953 million people in South Asian region do not have proper sanitation
In Pakistan 25 million people openly defecate
so that leaves 953-25= 928 million people.

Now the whole population of Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal combined is about 205 million...
so 928 million-205million=723million people are without proper sanitation
Now we don't know if that is the figure for open defecation or lack of proper sanitation.....but India is the remaining country of interest here.....hmm.....i wonder what our Indian members have to say?
South Asia's largest economy and also largest population without sanitation?

@Echo_419 @Bang Galore @GURU DUTT @vinay @jamahir @Manindra

Guys your astute analysis please.

''Likewise, rates of open defecation have reduced, but India still has the highest percentage of the population defecating in the open–with 44% of people going outside in 2015—down from 75% in 1990, compared with a 13% figure for Pakistan in 2015, 32% for Nepal and only 1% for Bangladesh.''

India Lags Behind Pakistan, Nepal on Sanitation - India Real Time - WSJ

Its interesting how far Nepal has come since 1990, great work.

 

[jamahir]

953 million people in South Asian region do not have proper sanitation
In Pakistan 25 million people openly defecate
so that leaves 953-25= 928 million people.

Now the whole population of Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal combined is about 205 million...
so 928 million-205million=723million people are without proper sanitation
Now we don't know if that is the figure for open defecation or lack of proper sanitation.....but India is the remaining country of interest here.....hmm.....i wonder what our Indian members have to say?
South Asia's largest economy and also largest population without sanitation?

@Echo_419 @Bang Galore @GURU DUTT @vinay @jamahir @Manindra

Guys your astute analysis please.

no one can logically deny that india lacks a culture of sanitation... males being uncaring about opening their zips to take a leak at compound walls as the traffic flows-by ten feet behind them, will lead to a society that doesn't care about proper sanitation facilities in their homes or provision of such in public areas.

when in public, not everyone can afford or dare to go into a cafe or shopping mall or a grand hotel to take a leak or a dump, thereby necessiating the construction of quality public latrines... but india got a late start on this ( though a encouraging one ) in form of "sulabh shouchalaya" constructions.

in the last three years have been encouraging reports of brides in villages refusing to live in their new husbands' homes because these homes lacked a toilet.

but lot lot more is to be done... indian government should divert funds from the indian military so as to construct quality public toilets in cities and to instruct every village to use local materials to construct public toliets there as well as toilets within homes.

what remains are slums in cities and towns... this is more of a bigger issue because people living in slums will have cell phones and fridges but not personal toilets.

 

[Donatello]

no one can logically deny that india lacks a culture of sanitation... males being uncaring about opening their zips to take a leak at compound walls as the traffic flows-by ten feet behind them, will lead to a society that doesn't care about proper sanitation facilities in their homes or provision of such in public areas.

when in public, not everyone can afford or dare to go into a cafe or shopping mall or a grand hotel to take a leak or a dump, thereby necessiating the construction of quality public latrines... but india got a late start on this ( though a encouraging one ) in form of "sulabh shouchalaya" constructions.

in the last three years have been encouraging reports of brides in villages refusing to live in their new husbands' homes because these homes lacked a toilet.

but lot lot more is to be done... indian government should divert funds from the indian military so as to construct quality public toilets in cities and to instruct every village to use local materials to construct public toliets there as well as toilets within homes.

what remains are slums in cities and towns... this is more of a bigger issue because people living in slums will have cell phones and fridges but not personal toilets.

Yes, but my question is that, India is one country in the South Asian region which has gained the most on the economic front and seen an explosion of wealth. However, as in the graph posted above, Srilanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, all 4 show a remarkable gain in improvement of sanitation, whereas the same period 1990-2015 in which India grew the most in it's modern history, India lagged behind in sanitation.
For me it is something more than 'government' not doing this and that.....yes they can divert funds.....but why are so many people still lacking a basic need?
India has done well on education front.....no one can deny that for example.......now yes, government set up a lot of schools/universities, but then Indians themselves want to study and aspire higher....so why is it that they get that done but not a basic human need?

 

[Kabira]

Yes, but my question is that, India is one country in the South Asian region which has gained the most on the economic front and seen an explosion of wealth. However, as in the graph posted above, Srilanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, all 4 show a remarkable gain in improvement of sanitation, whereas the same period 1990-2015 in which India grew the most in it's modern history, India lagged behind in sanitation.
For me it is something more than 'government' not doing this and that.....yes they can divert funds.....but why are so many people still lacking a basic need?
India has done well on education front.....no one can deny that for example.......now yes, government set up a lot of schools/universities, but then Indians themselves want to study and aspire higher....so why is it that they get that done but not a basic human need?

Numbers don't always show ground situation. Thats why indicators like this are eye opening.

 

[coffee_cup]

953 million people in South Asian region do not have proper sanitation
In Pakistan 25 million people openly defecate
so that leaves 953-25= 928 million people.

Now the whole population of Bangladesh, Srilanka and Nepal combined is about 205 million...
so 928 million-205million=723million people are without proper sanitation
Now we don't know if that is the figure for open defecation or lack of proper sanitation.....but India is the remaining country of interest here.....hmm.....i wonder what our Indian members have to say?
South Asia's largest economy and also largest population without sanitation?

@Echo_419 @Bang Galore @GURU DUTT @vinay @jamahir @Manindra

Guys your astute analysis please.

Who cares man. GDP numbers are good.

All those shiny percentage and rankings, who cares whethere ordinary people have the very basics of life available to them or not.

So what if only few hundred ultra rich have collected perhaps 80% of the wealth in India.

Numbers are good...

 

[Donatello]

''Likewise, rates of open defecation have reduced, but India still has the highest percentage of the population defecating in the open–with 44% of people going outside in 2015—down from 75% in 1990, compared with a 13% figure for Pakistan in 2015, 32% for Nepal and only 1% for Bangladesh.''

India Lags Behind Pakistan, Nepal on Sanitation - India Real Time - WSJ

Its interesting how far Nepal has come since 1990, great work.

More interesting is Bangladesh....1%....WTH?

 

[Kabira]

More interesting is Bangladesh....1%....WTH?

Seem like they have taken care of open defecation. Hopefully by next decade Pak % is also 1.

 

[Shot-Caller]

Nepal has improved significantly.

 

[UKBengali]

More interesting is Bangladesh....1%....WTH?

People in BD do not go outside any-more to relieve themselves.

In cities and towns, there are many public toilets available for people to use.

 

[Yousafzai_M]

So people on this thread are discussing shit :/

 

[jamahir]

Yes, but my question is that, India is one country in the South Asian region which has gained the most on the economic front and seen an explosion of wealth. However, as in the graph posted above, Srilanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, all 4 show a remarkable gain in improvement of sanitation, whereas the same period 1990-2015 in which India grew the most in it's modern history, India lagged behind in sanitation.
For me it is something more than 'government' not doing this and that.....yes they can divert funds.....but why are so many people still lacking a basic need?

various factors... but must be said that both pakistan and india are lacking in a communitarian culture whose effects manifest through various forms... india is more extremely so... like i said, a lack of culture of sanitation, which comes from lack of respect for self and lack of respect for the sensitivities of others along with a certain arrogance/cockiness.

India has done well on education front.....no one can deny that for example.......now yes, government set up a lot of schools/universities, but then Indians themselves want to study and aspire higher....so why is it that they get that done but not a basic human need?

education in india is not really education but a temporary means to attain the coveted generally risk-free salaried middle-class life... most people in india don't have high ambitions because they are discouraged by culture... "jitni chaadar, utna hi payr phelao".

do you being in computing know of any indian microprocessor or operating system ?? if not, then why not, despite ( as of 2011 ) 300,000 students graduating from computer courses in college ??

 

[Raja.Pakistani]

We are still behind as cleanliness is half of faith in Islam and most of us are Muslims