KARACHI, Nov 25: The Water and Sanitation Extension Programme (WASEP), an initiative of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan, has been declared one of the 12 winners of the Dubai International Award for Best Practices (DIABP).

This is the first social project from Pakistan to receive the prestigious DIABP award.

The WASEP was initiated in 1997 with the aim of providing integrated clean drinking water supply infrastructure services to rural communities and helping to prevent water-related diseases through improved hygiene and sanitation practices.

With the support of international and national donors, more than 200,000 people living in 250 villages across Pakistan have benefited from the project.

The other winners of the award, from amongst the 500 submissions received, include projects from the US, China, Spain, South Africa, Indonesia, Palestine, Mexico, Colombia, Senegal, DR Congo and Burundi.