Lahore, January 20, 2026 — WaterAid Pakistan hosted a high-level consultation in Lahore aimed at strengthening legislative leadership for Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) governance. The event brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, and civil society representatives to promote inclusive and equitable access to WASH services across Punjab.
Held at Faletti’s Hotel, the consultation aligned with WaterAid’s Country Programme Strategy (2023–2028), emphasizing inclusive and climate-resilient WASH services as both a human right and a public health priority.
Focus on inclusive legislation and policy reform
Participants included members of the Provincial Assembly, representatives from the Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, and the Gender Mainstreaming Committee. Discussions centered on embedding GEDSI principles into provincial policy frameworks through legislative tools, oversight mechanisms, and inclusive budgeting.
Mian Muhammad Junaid, Country Director of WaterAid Pakistan, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting line departments in reviewing drinking water policies and ensuring that gender equality, disability inclusion, and marginalized communities are reflected in policy formulation.
Muhammad Sufyan, Head of Punjab and KP at WaterAid, highlighted concerns about rising groundwater extraction and the absence of effective recharge mechanisms, warning that climate change and shifting rainfall patterns are intensifying water security challenges.
Addressing systemic exclusion in WASH access
Raheema Panhwar, Gender Advisor at WaterAid, shared insights from national and provincial consultations in 2024, emphasizing the need to integrate gender equality, disability inclusion, and climate resilience into all WASH-related legal and policy frameworks.
The session was moderated by Rushda Lodhi, Parliamentary Secretary for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, who stressed the importance of ground-level engagement by legislators to better understand water quality concerns and community-level challenges.
Zakia Shahnawaz, Member of the Provincial Assembly and Guest of Honour, presented a follow-up action plan underscoring sustained collaboration between civil society and legislative bodies. She emphasized awareness-building among families and communities regarding the importance of safe water and sanitation.
Parliamentarians highlighted the urgent need to address systemic exclusion faced by women, children, persons with disabilities, low-income households, and seasonal migrants in accessing safe WASH services, particularly in rural and suburban areas.
Policy recommendations emerging from the consultation included GEDSI-inclusive legislation, stronger parliamentary oversight, evidence-based decision-making, and enhanced collaboration between WaterAid, civil society, and government institutions.
The event reinforced Pakistan’s commitment to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), by promoting inclusive and equitable WASH governance.
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