A WORKSHOP on drinking water held in Islamabad focused on a communication strategy to effect behavioural changes for clean water, hygiene and sanitation. This is an important aspect of the water policy that was announced last year. Since water and sanitation-related diseases cost the national economy Rs112bn a year it is important that people are educated about the link between their personal habits and the high incidence of diseases. However, it is odd that the authorities entrusted with the implementation of the water policy should hire consultants to devise strategies for behavioural changes. For, where is the potable water that is to be supplied to the people who are to be taught to consume it with caution? The emphasis of the water policy appears to be on setting up a new drinking water system that centres on 6,266 water filtration plants. As of 2008, 49.5 million people lacked access to clean drinking water. Under the Musharraf government the Clean Drinking Water for All project Rs15bn were allocated for this policy all over the country. The project never reached completion.

No doubt, a change in the attitude of consumers can optimise the quality of water and reduce the incidence of disease. For instance, boiling water makes it safer for consumption. But it is the government's responsibility as the main provider of municipal services to ensure that the water that flows from the people's taps is clean and free from contamination. It is then that the citizens' responsibility begins of preventing infectious diseases by adopting safe hygiene practices. If the water that people get is contaminated with untreated sewage, industrial waste, salts and chemicals, it is not possible for them to purify it and make it drinkable. The water policy is being implemented from the wrong end it seems.