Potable water is not only the basic right of every individual but also one of the basic requirements of healthy and hygienic living. The importance of clean drinking water cannot be overstated when it comes to preventing infection, illness and death in developing countries like Pakistan. Non-availability of safe drinking water leads to many waterborne diseases, in particular, those that affect the health of mother and child. Consequently, mortality due to water borne diseases is very high. This alarming situation is seriously hindering Pakistan’s efforts to attain health and poverty-related Millennium Development Goals.
Keeping all this in mind, the Government of Punjab under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif established Punjab Saaf Pani Company to improve water supply in terms of both access and quality of drinking water, especially in rural and peri-urban areas of the province. Under this project, supply of clean drinking water will be ensured to people living in villages during the next two years and the government will provide billions of rupees from its own sources for this project.
As clean drinking water is linked with the health of people, therefore, every effort should be made to materialise the dream of provision of potable water into reality. The government now must act with integrity in fulfilling its promises otherwise only words will not do anything. Every Pakistani has the right to clean air, safe drinking water and healthy communities to raise their children therefore, we all must stand united to aggressively protect that right, not just on Earth Day or Environment Day, but every day.
Syed Ali Qasim
Lahore
