On 15th April 2026, Ms. Cindy Kushner, Chief of WASH & Climate, Environment and Energy (CEE), UNICEF Pakistan, visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and held a series of high-level meetings with key government stakeholders and the WASHNet team at the Planning & Development Department. Ms. Kushner was accompanied by the UNICEF Pakistan WASH Manager Itsuru Takahashi.
During the visit, Ms. Kushner met with the Secretary Local Government Department, Secretary Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Chief International Development Section (IDS), P&D Department, Mr. Ihtisham Ul Haq, and the WASHNet team to review ongoing collaboration and discuss strategic priorities for the WASH sector in the province.
The discussions focused on several key areas, including the review and way forward on amendments to the KP Water Act, strengthening WASH policies and regulatory frameworks, and addressing sector fragmentation through improved coordination mechanisms. Participants also exchanged updates on Funds for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and explored opportunities for enhanced engagement in climate-related financing and resilience initiatives.
The meetings provided an important platform to align priorities between UNICEF and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving water, sanitation, and hygiene services through stronger policy frameworks, institutional coordination, and climate-responsive approaches.