The Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), in partnership with the Planning Commission and UNICEF, launched a two-day national conference, entitled the “National Conference on Provincial Policies and Strategies for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion.” The chief guest at the event is Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, Advisor to the Planning Commission. The conference is also being attended by the UNICEF Country Representative Dan Rohrmann, and RSPN CEO Ms Shandana Khan. It is estimated that water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases cost Pakistan’s economy about Rs112 billion per year.