Overview

Introduction
Water and Environmental Sanitation Network (WESNet) is a network of WES related government organizations, NGOs, donors, academia and private sector players of NWFP in Pakistan. The need for network was reiterated by the Governor NWFP on World Water Day on 22nd March 2002, subsequently leading to the establishment of WESNet after thorough consultations with key stakeholders.

Background
14th August 2001 was historic day in the history of Pakistan not only because it was the independence day of the country but also on that day the new local governments in all 4 provinces in Pakistan came into existence. The Devolution of Power Plan initiated in 2000 was completed on 14th August 2001 and the governance powers were devolved from the Province to District and further to Towns and Tehsils.

The Secretary for Local Government (LGE&RDD) on the world water day in 2002 presented an idea to develop a new setup to integrate and share all the experiences and knowledge in the sector of water and sanitation by establishing an independent unit-WESNet at the Provincial level. Water and sanitation is one of the components of public sector social services and the sector has direct effect on the health and education sectors.

The newly established local government structure has recognized the importance of WES sector and has tasked an entire tier of local government, i.e. the Tehsil government, through which, the government was in need of some provincial level support for the execution of their functions in an effective, smooth and guided way. Previous service provider like PHED was devolved from Province to TMA level for effective service delivery. With the demise of PHED and absence of any other provincial entity to provide technical backstopping to the tehsils in smooth conduct of their business, the need for WESNet became even more evident.

Justification of WESNet
Water and Sanitation has been made a Tehsil subject for good reasons. With the demise of PHED and absence of any other provincial WES related entity; TMAs are in dire need of some technical backstopping in effectively executing their functions in a smooth and guided fashion.