The International WASH & MHM Expo-Conference 2025 opened in Lahore with a three-day programme focused on “Breaking Barriers, Building Solutions: Youth for Safe and Dignified WASH Services,” bringing students, researchers, policymakers and practitioners together to advance gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to water, sanitation and menstrual health. The event highlighted the role of young people in shaping practical reforms across Pakistan’s WASH ecosystem.
Dr. Uzma Ashiq Khan, in charge of the Gender and Development Studies Department at Lahore College for Women University, urged stronger youth-led engagement and research to influence equitable WASH policy. She called for academic institutions to expand opportunities for students to lead community-based interventions and evidence generation on menstrual health.
Muhammad Sufyan, Head of Punjab & KP at WaterAid Pakistan, described ongoing collaborations with educational institutions and civil society to promote dignity, safety and awareness around hygiene and menstrual health. He stressed that partnerships are central to scaling sustainable WASH services in both urban and rural areas.
A keynote by Prof. Dr. Maria Fannin from the University of Bristol offered a global academic perspective on menstrual narratives and stigma, drawing on research presented as “Reflections on First Periods from the Feminist Archive South.” Her address was followed by a screening of WaterAid’s documentary showcasing field efforts to improve access to clean water and sanitation across Pakistan, reinforcing practical links between research and community action in WASH MHM work.
Muhammad Junaid, Country Director of WaterAid Pakistan, reiterated that youth voices are central to driving change in WASH and menstrual health. He emphasised empowering young women to challenge stigma and co-design solutions that deliver safe, dignified services and long-term behavioural change.
Parliamentary Secretary for Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Rushda Lodhi welcomed the initiative for bridging academia and policy and called menstrual health a public health priority and a matter of dignity. Parliamentary Secretary for the Women Development Department Sadia Taimoor praised the WaterAid–LCWU collaboration as a landmark effort to empower young women as leaders in WASH advocacy.
Raheema Panhwar, Gender Advisor at WaterAid, shared success stories from integrating MHM indicators into provincial systems and presented findings from the Punjab MHM Policy Gap Analysis, urging policymakers to institutionalise menstrual health education in schools and provincial planning frameworks to ensure sustained impact.
In her remarks, Prof. Dr. Rubina Sohail, consultant gynaecologist and founder of the Mahfooz Maa Initiative, emphasised the need for continued awareness, clinical guidance and medical advocacy around menstrual hygiene and reproductive health to support healthier outcomes for young women.
The conference concluded with thanks from Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi, Vice Chancellor of LCWU, and the presentation of shields to distinguished guests and speakers in recognition of their efforts to promote dignified WASH services. Participants left the expo with renewed focus on youth-led solutions and practical commitments to mainstream WASH MHM into Pakistan’s education and health systems.
