The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has begun work to develop Pakistan’s first National WASH Accounts in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and with technical support from WaterAid, the World Health Organization and UNICEF. The initiative aims to create a single national database to support climate-resilient and sustainable delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene services.
Under the proposed National WASH Accounts, federal and provincial agencies will generate standardised and timely data to track investments, monitor service delivery and improve oversight of public funds across the sector. Authorities expect the system to fill persistent data gaps that have limited evidence-based planning, financing and coordination at the national level.
Mohammad Saleem Shaikh, the ministry’s media spokesperson and WASH policy advocacy specialist, said, “This is the first time Pakistan is moving towards a single national framework for tracking the state of water and sanitation services across the country.” He emphasised that the National WASH Accounts will allow policymakers to identify underserved areas and allocate resources more effectively.
The design of the National WASH Accounts will incorporate modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence-based systems, to improve data collection, verification, analysis and reporting. These technologies are expected to speed up reporting cycles, enhance data accuracy and enable more responsive planning for climate and environmental pressures.
Aisha Humera Moriani, Federal Secretary for Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, described the move as a turning point for WASH governance, saying, “Through a unified national system, we will be able to identify gaps, direct investments where they are needed most and ensure that every province is working from the same evidence base.” She highlighted the role of the National WASH Accounts in strengthening transparency and institutional accountability.
Officials noted the initiative will support Pakistan’s reporting on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 by providing clearer metrics on access to safe water and sanitation. The National WASH Accounts are also aligned with national programmes such as URAAN Pakistan and the Ministry of Planning’s 5E framework, helping to shift policy from reactive responses to proactive, evidence-led decision making.
