Quetta: A Stakeholders Consultative and Dissemination Workshop on the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) Situation Analysis brought together government officials, humanitarian partners and civil society representatives in Quetta to discuss challenges and opportunities for improving sanitation services across the city and the wider province.
The workshop, organised by HOPE, a national non-governmental organisation working with communities in Balochistan, was held at Usmania Hotel. The discussions focused on the need for coordinated efforts, stronger planning and sustainable approaches to sanitation and hygiene.
On the directions of Relief Commissioner and Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan Asghar Ali Jamali, Deputy Director PDMA Balochistan represented the authority at the event and shared the organisation’s experience in responding to community needs during emergencies.
Addressing the participants, he highlighted PDMA Balochistan’s role as the lead of the WASH Sectoral Group, particularly in ensuring access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities during emergencies. He said the authority’s work extended beyond immediate disaster response to supporting longer-term measures aimed at strengthening resilience.
He cited PDMA’s recent support to the Local Government Department and Metropolitan Corporation Quetta (MCQ) as an example of its practical engagement with civic challenges. On the special initiative of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Bugti, PDMA deployed its human resources and machinery to assist in garbage collection across Quetta and facilitate its disposal at designated sites.
The initiative provided additional support to municipal authorities at a time when waste management remained an important concern for the city. The deployment demonstrated how disaster-management resources could also contribute to addressing pressing public needs when circumstances require coordinated institutional action.
The deputy director also highlighted PDMA’s continued cooperation with the Public Health Engineering Department in developing long-term WASH plans and policies. He emphasised that building resilience required more than responding to emergencies, stressing the importance of forward-looking planning and sustainable systems.
The presentation drew appreciation from participants, with the Chief Executive Officer of HOPE acknowledging PDMA Balochistan’s efforts and its cooperation with non-governmental organisations during challenging situations. The CEO expressed support for continued collaboration between HOPE and PDMA in addressing community needs across the province.
The workshop concluded with a shared emphasis on strengthening cooperation among government institutions, humanitarian organisations and civil society to improve sanitation, hygiene and public health. Participants expressed hope that continued collaboration would contribute to a cleaner, healthier and more dignified environment for communities in Quetta and across Balochistan.