The Global Parliamentary Water Network (GPWN) warmly congratulates the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the establishment of its Caucus on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) — Pakistan’s first legislative caucus dedicated to WASH. GPWN connects Members of Parliament and other legislators worldwide to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through legislative action: stronger laws, increased budgets and greater accountability. This landmark step places Khyber Pakhtunkhwa among a fast-growing global community of legislatures using the power of legislative actions to accelerate progress toward safe water and sanitation for all.
Constituted under Rule 292 of the Provincial Assembly’s Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules 2025 and established by order of the Honourable Speaker, the Caucus brings together sixteen Members of the Provincial Assembly across party lines under the chairmanship of Mr. Abdul Kabir Khan. Its cross-party membership, including strong representation of women legislators, signals that water, sanitation, hygiene and climate resilience are shared priorities that transcend political divides.
“This is exactly the kind of political leadership the world needs,” said Honorable Silas Aogon, Chair of the Global Advisory Board of the Global Parliamentary Water Network and a Member of Parliament in Uganda. “When legislators organise around water, sanitation and climate, they turn a technical challenge into a political priority — sharpening oversight of budgets, strengthening the laws that protect water resources, and holding institutions accountable for delivery. We congratulate every Member who has stepped forward to serve, and we stand ready to support them.”
The GPWN also recognises the partners whose sustained work made this milestone possible. The initiative was facilitated by the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Network (WASHNet), the government-led coordination platform housed within the Planning & Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the support of UNICEF. It was through WASHNet’s consultations with Members, the Assembly Secretariat and partners, including a thematic workshop for parliamentarians on WASH and climate resilience, that the idea of a dedicated Caucus took shape and gained momentum. This reflects a model the GPWN champions worldwide: elected legislators, technical officials and committed civil society partners working together to deliver results.
WASH caucuses have proven to be powerful vehicles for change. By scrutinising budgets, championing legislation, engaging communities and elevating the voices of those still without safe water and dignified sanitation, legislatures can drive accelerated and measurable gains in public health, education, gender equality and climate resilience. The GPWN is confident the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caucus is well placed to take on this vital role for the people of the province.
The GPWN looks forward to welcoming the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caucus into the global community of water-focused legislators, and to working alongside WASHNet, UNICEF and other partners to share knowledge, tools and peer support as the Caucus begins its work. Together, we can help ensure that every family in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and around the world has access to the safe water, sanitation and hygiene that are the foundation of a healthy and dignified life.