KARACHI, Jan 9: The Sindh Minister for Local Government, Katchi Abadis and Spatial Development, Mohammad Hussain Khan, said the draft of provincial sanitation policy had been prepared and would be reviewed by experts before its final approval from the provincial cabinet.

This, he said, while talking to a delegation of Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP) of the World Bank that called on him at his office here on Tuesday.

The minister said that a consultant would be hired for comparative study of National Sanitation Policy and draft of Provincial Sanitation Policy, adding he would recommend any changes according to the requirements of various districts and towns of Sindh.

Mr Khan said that final recommendations of the consultant would be ready for presentation and approval of the provincial cabinet within two months.

He said formation of Provincial Steering Committee to oversee and monitor water and sanitation projects was in the final stages and the committee would also ensure effective implementation of uplift projects in the water and sanitation sector.

The minister said that experts would soon visit the sanitation model being initiated in Lodhran district of the Punjab. During the study tour, the possibility of its replication in any part of Sindh would be thoroughly examined, he added.

Mr Khan assured the delegation of all-out assistance by the provincial government. He said the sanitation system in every city and town of the province needed immediate attention and keeping in view the situation, the Sindh government was giving top priority to this sector.

Special Secretary (Technical) Local Government Ghulam Arif Khan stressed the need for thorough evaluation of the National Sanitation Policy, as well as, the draft prepared at the provincial level.

He said a consultative workshop was needed to examine the pros and cons of both the sanitation policies before formulating and adopting any policy in this regard.

Ahmed Farooq of the WSP assured the minister that the WSP would extend all technical support and guidance to the Sindh government for preparing the provincial sanitation policy and hiring consultant to review those policies.

Dr Sikandar Panhwar, Meheen Zehra and Farhan Anwar were also present on the occasion.--PPI