LAHORE: Cognisant of a serious problem that some 2.2 million families are still going outdoors for defecation, the provincial government in collaboration with the Unicef on Thursday launched a three-year Open Defecation-Free Punjab Project.

The project launched in 10 districts, including six in South Punjab, aims at ensuring provision of toilets for 125,000 families through community and self-help basis, while around 70,000 poorest of the poor families will be provided with assistance for the setting up of toilets.

For behavioural change, the project will reach out to over five million people for creation of awareness about the need for toilets.

According to the Unicef’s MICS survey, some 13 per cent population was still facing hardships and going outdoors even in severe weather conditions. The project has been launched in Rajanpur, Chiniot, D.G. Khan, Jhang, Khushab, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

Usman Buzdar formally launching the project at chief minister’s secretariat said a large number of population was facing serious hardships and compelled for open defecation that was causing numerous ailments in people in rural areas.

In three years, the chief minister said some 200,000 toilets would be established and added that the government would fulfill its commitment to create Clean and Green Pakistan.

He said the Punjab government had also launched municipal services programme and allocated Rs26 billion. He said the programme was being implemented in consultation with elected representatives while deputy commissioners were monitoring the programme.

Housing minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, housing department secretary Nadeem Mahboob and the Unicef provincial head also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2020