ISLAMABAD – Nearly one in every four citizens in Pakistan does not have access to safe drinking water, raising urgent concerns over public health and governance. Despite major investments in water infrastructure over the years, millions of people still depend on unsafe or contaminated sources.
Experts warn that the crisis is particularly severe in rural areas, where infrastructure is limited and water often comes from unregulated wells, ponds, or surface channels. Urban regions fare slightly better but still face issues with outdated pipelines, untreated supply, and industrial contamination.
Health officials link the lack of clean water directly to Pakistan’s high rate of waterborne diseases, which account for a significant portion of hospital admissions nationwide. Children are among the most vulnerable, with diarrheal diseases remaining one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.
Environmentalists and water experts argue that poor management, weak regulation, and inadequate monitoring have compounded the crisis. They stress that unless the government prioritises water quality along with supply expansion, the situation may worsen with population growth and climate-driven water shortages.
Calls are growing for immediate reforms, including better treatment facilities, stricter quality testing, and community-level awareness campaigns to curb the spread of unsafe practices.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.