Government policy for Pakistan at the time was only to support the ORS 1-litre packet. However, this had considerable consequences for Baluchestan. Virtually all active agencies realised that distribution networks for the packet were inadequate; that there were, in fact, three different sized packets available (1-litre; 0,5-litre; and 0,25-litre); and that adult female literacy rates were very low indeed, requiring that a home-based solution be used. However, all of the six or seven active agencies used different home solution systems.

UNICEF played a coordinating role is bringing all agencies together (both provincial and refugee); demonstrating what was happening; getting agreement to act together; and defining how to proceed. Two different systems of preparing the home solution were proposed for test (spoon and glass; and pinch-and-scoop). While the spoon and glass method appeared to be better comprehended by communities, both spoon and glass sizes varied so much that the range in resulting solute concentrations were well outside the WHO defined limits. The pinch-and-scoop method gave a far more reliable solute concentration (within the WHO limits), so it was decided amongst the agencies to support this method only.

The coordinated approach was made easier because UNICEF undertook to provide all resulting materials free to all agencies in whatever numbers could be justified, when the development was completed.