Pakistan has the world’s sixth biggest population and is rapidly urbanising.  By 2030, half of its population will live in cities whose water and sanitation systems are already over-stretched.

We are working in Pakistan’s complex and diverse urban environment through projects that bring safe water and improved sanitation and promote hygiene behaviour for a lasting change. 

Urban Programme aims to focus on three themes to implement the 2016-2021 Country Programme Strategy. 

1. Sustainable WASH services for the poor and marginalised in informal urban settlements and small to medium size cities to emerge as replicable models for adaption at scale. 

2. Support collaborative and integrated mechanisms for effectively strengthening institutional governance for service delivery.

3. Support all collaborative mechanisms in strengthening an enabling environment that would lead to a transformational change in urban WASH services.

In the Urban Programme, we are building on the existing initiatives and also working on new initiatives as part of the urban WASH models. The programme aims to create a collaborative environment between local partners, stakeholders and the state on engaging citizens. This initiative involves engagement of citizens of urban informal settlements in inclusive and accountable planning, budgeting and implementation of urban WASH services. 

In order to deliver on the strategic objectives of the programme, we are working on the following project approaches:

Kausar's life has changed

Kausar, a rickshaw driver in Lahore, no longer has to cross a busy rail track to fetch drinking water.

Kausar Parveen, 52, in her rickhsaw in Basti Allahu, UC 201, Gulberg, Lahore city, Province Punjab, Pakistan, November 2019.
Image: WaterAid/ Sibtain Haider

Some Urban WASH facts for your read

Urban wash info
Image: WaterAid