PESHAWAR, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 12th Aug, 2026) The first committee meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly WASH Caucus (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) was held in the Conference Room of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, chaired by Chairman WASH Caucus and Member Provincial Assembly Kabeer Khan.
Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati and Chief Whip and Member Provincial Assembly Akbar Ayub Khan attended the meeting as special guests.
Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and Secretary WASH Caucus Syed Waqar Shah, Members of the Provincial Assembly, representatives of UNICEF, the Planning and Development Department, relevant government institutions, development partners and private organizations also attended the meeting.
The meeting held detailed discussions on the current WASH situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, challenges being faced, policy matters, legislation and a joint roadmap for future action.
Participants also presented proposals for improving the WASH sector, strengthening institutional coordination and ensuring effective provision of basic services to the people.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati emphasized the importance of the WASH Caucus, stating that water, sanitation and hygiene are directly linked to the quality of life and basic human needs of the people.
He stressed that effective and sustained coordination among the Assembly, relevant government departments, development partners, and national and international organizations is essential for addressing these challenges.
The Speaker urged relevant government institutions to develop an effective coordination mechanism for WASH-related matters so that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, government institutions and relevant national and international organizations could work together in greater harmony.
He said the WASH Caucus should not remain merely a forum but should serve as an effective platform for practical initiatives, policy development and addressing issues faced by the people.
Chief Whip Akbar Ayub Khan said that strong coordination among institutions is essential for achieving the desired objectives in the WASH sector. He said the WASH Caucus provided a platform where all relevant stakeholders could jointly identify challenges and formulate a coordinated strategy for their practical resolution.
Chairman WASH Caucus Kaber Khan, while addressing the meeting, expressed appreciation to the Planning and Development Department, WASH Network and other partners for presenting valuable information and recommendations regarding the existing WASH situation, challenges and future course of action.
He said the establishment of the WASH Caucus by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is an important parliamentary initiative that would play an effective role in highlighting water, sanitation and hygiene issues at the parliamentary level and working towards their resolution.
Kabir Khan said the meeting was introductory in nature; however, regular meetings of the WASH Caucus would be held to translate its objectives into practical action.
He said continued attention, parliamentary oversight and cooperation among all relevant institutions would help address the challenges faced by the people in this important sector.
Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and Secretary WASH Caucus Syed Waqar Shah said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had, for the first time, established a dedicated parliamentary caucus on WASH.
He said the caucus was among the few parliamentary caucuses in the world working specifically on water, sanitation and hygiene.
He said that in accordance with the vision of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was playing a proactive role in facilitating the general public, particularly in areas involving essential services and necessities of life.
Syed Waqar Shah said the WASH Caucus would review the quality and implementation of services being provided to the public by the government and relevant institutions, identify gaps in existing policies and legislation, and propose improvements in existing laws or new legislation wherever necessary.
He further said that future meetings of the WASH Caucus would take up water, sanitation and hygiene issues in phases. Existing policies and relevant laws of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government would be reviewed to identify legal and administrative gaps, while possibilities for new legislation would also be explored where required.
Senior Coordinator WASH Caucus Nosheen Khan said the meeting was an important step towards addressing WASH-related issues at the parliamentary level.
She said the strong interest and participation of parliamentarians would play an important role in making the caucus successful.
She added that a comprehensive action plan comprising various activities would be developed to achieve the objectives of the WASH Caucus, with all relevant stakeholders working together towards practical and sustainable solutions.
The participants expressed their commitment to continued coordination and joint efforts among parliamentary, government and development institutions to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
