With key program objective of improving environmental health of local communities through provision of safe water and sanitation facilities to local communities in Northern Pakistan and Sindh, AKPBSP initiated the Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP) in 1997 with the aim of providing infrastructure services and preventing water related diseases contributing to sustainable development and ultimately to poverty alleviation. Development of community capacity in design and maintenance of these services is a key element of this integrated approach.

\WASEP’s integrated intervention package includes 1) community mobilization and participation; 2) potable water supply infrastructure; 3) water quality management; 4) gray water drainage infrastructure; 5) household sanitation infrastructure and 6) health and hygiene education. As part of Terms of Partnership (ToP), the community must take the responsibility for operation and maintenance (O&M) of scheme once the infrastructure is installed, as well as contribute in cash to create a fund for it. WASEP’s approach thus is not only to provide physical infrastructure and promote proper sanitation and environmental health practices, but also to ensure long-term sustainability of the infrastructure.

Since 1997, WASEP has been successfully partnered with 130 rural communities in provision of integrated water supply and sanitation (WSS) services. Till June 2008, 191 villages have been covered within the program area. WASEP to date, has supplied potable water to 153,000 people, installed 9200 latrines and conducted 5700 hygiene education sessions, generally with women and children. Level of water borne diseases in WASEP’s program villages has gone down by at least 60%. A recent study published in March 2003 issue of WHO magazine states that WASEP integrated intervention package has reduced the diarrhea incidences by at least 25 percent. All the 191 water supply schemes are currently operational, being run and operated by local communities.