SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT FOR FECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Even though global sanitation access is improving, safe fecal waste management is becoming a rising challenge. Pakistan is considered the 5th most populous country in the world with an estimated population of 238.18 million. The goal of this study was to evaluate the current need for fecal sludge management (FSM) in Pakistan. It is essential to contact those in charge of looking after sanitation in different cities of Pakistan as well as the local population which is directly affected by it. This study was conducted to get a firsthand view of the sanitation situation in Pakistan. Primary data was collected using a Target Sanitation Survey Form distributed online to the general public. Key Informant Interviews with officials in charge of sanitation in various cities were conducted. Secondary data collection entails gathering information from reports, articles, or other reliable written sources, which was done through a desktop study. Three main cities of Pakistan i.e. Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore were selected for the sanitation situation assessment. Karachi and Lahore are provincial capitals whereas Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. In Pakistan, there is a rapid increase in the development and use of onsite sanitation systems since 2000 under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To evaluate the current situational assessment in three major cities of Pakistan, two tools were used, a Shift flow diagram (SFDs) and Modified Service Delivery Assessment (SDA). Shit flow diagrams depict the physical flow of excreta through the city. It analyzes the fate of all wastewater produced. Modified Service Delivery Assessment concerned with reasons for the situation of sanitation. It can be concluded that FSM should be included in the National Sanitation Policy for due attention. The government's budget should be significantly increased and to achieve safe fecal waste management, future sanitation investments must include fecal sludge management strategies. People in these cities should have access to basic sanitation at least, whether onsite or off-site sanitation. Furthermore, to serve the increasing population, the current sewerage network must be extended. Collection efforts must be made to end open defecation. Attention must be given to the construction of new treatment plants to treat wastewater and fecal sludge. Existing treatment plants should be rehabilitated and run at maximum capacity. Media, curriculum, and civil society must all work together to raise awareness about this issue. Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) and PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP) models must be implemented.