Balochistan, which constitutes 44 percent of Pakistan’s
area and 5 percent of its population, is the least
developed province of Pakistan. Compared with national
average literacy rates of 32.6 percent for females and 56.5
percent for males (1998 estimates), it has an average
literacy rate of 15 percent and 36.5 percent for females and
males, respectively. The female literacy rate in rural areas
however is 2 percent. The infant and under-5 mortality
rates of 190 and 235 live births (LB) per 1000 in the
province are also considerably higher than the corresponding
national average values of 101 and 140 per 1000,
respectively.
In order to “contribute to child survival, protection and
development” by provision of adequate water and sanitation
facilities in girls primary schools and imparting health
and hygiene education, the Government of Balochistan
launched the UNICEF’s assisted Primary Environmental
Care in Girls Primary School (PECGPS) Project in selected
areas of the province in 1998. Considering the fact that lack
of drinking water and sanitation facilities is one of the main
reasons for low enrollment and high drop out rates in the
girls primary schools in Balochistan, it was also envisaged
that the project would result in an increased female literacy
rate through decreased primary school drop out.
This paper summarizes the experiences of the work
carried out in two divisions i.e. Kalat and Zhob up to
December 2000
