ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Climate Change and partners under the Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan campaign observed Global Hand Washing Day on Tuesday at the Government Girls Model College, G-6, in order to raise awareness about the importance of hand washing, hygiene and sanitation.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the government will be establishing toilets for girls in 12 schools under the Federal Directorate of Education and that the project will eventually extend to all schools and colleges in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) area.

He said the project will also include the improving of hand washing facilities.

Renowned TV personality Tauseeg Haider engaged children in a quiz ses-sion consisting of questions on hand washing and distributed baskets of fruits among them as gifts.

Minister of State Maryam Aurangzeb also won a fruit basket for giving a correct answer. A magic show was also arranged for the students.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Baligur Rehman said the ministry is very proud of developing the current curriculum which will also play a vital role in inculcating safe hand washing, hygiene and sanitation practices among children.

Mr Rehman said a revised curriculum for grades 1-5 will soon be completed and will be taught in schools in ICT, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the northern areas starting next academic year.

He said this will also help ensure hand washing, hygiene and safe sanitation habits are instilled in children from a young age.

Ms Aurangzeb announced a series of100 events throughout Pakistan as part of the Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan campaign in order to raise awareness about the importance of hand washing, hygiene and sanitation.

`Access to hand washing facilities, running water and soap needs to be improved, especially in impoverishedcommunities,` she said.

A World Health Organisation Report says 46pc of the Pakistani population do not have access to basic facilities to wash hands with soap, participants of the event were told.

According to WHO reports, 39,000 children under the age of five die every year due to diarrhoea and 88pc of diarrheal diseases are attributed to unsafe water supply and inadequate sanitation and hygiene.

Speakers at the event were told that hand washing can play a crucial role in preventing diarrheal and other diseases.

Pakistan has a long way to go to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Participants of the event were told that 25 million people in Pakistan defecate in the open and one of every three schools do not have drinking water while two of five schools do not have toilets.

Saaf Sehatmand Pakistan is a fiveyear multi-layere d national behaviour change campaign on water, sanitation and hygiene which seeks to promote healthy lifestyles by improving knowledge, attitudes and practices related to safe drinking water, better sanitation and improved hygiene.