Long-term solution: Govt to provide affordable drinking water in 10 years

Shah Farman says groundwater reserves across K-P depleting


Our Correspondent November 25, 2015
Shah Farman says groundwater reserves across K-P depleting. PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR: The government has developed a strategy under which clean water will be provided at affordable prices to people across the province within the next 10 years. 

This was stated in a handout issued on Wednesday. The announcement was made during a meeting of the public health engineering department held at Civil Secretariat on Wednesday. The moot was chaired by Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman and was aimed at discussing suitable means to implement the strategy.



“The main source of drinking water in K-P is groundwater,” the document quoted Farman as saying. “However, groundwater is rapidly depleting in many parts of the province.”

He added it was time to address the situation and invest in the future. According to the minister, the strategy will focus on extending water services to the rural population.  He said 21% rural areas do not have access to potable water. On the other hand, over 90% of people in urban areas have access to potable water.

“The provincial cabinet has already approved the Drinking Water Policy 2015 in its meeting in August 2015,” the statement quoted Farman as saying. “Under this policy, potable water has been recognised as a basic human right. It is now the responsibility of the public health engineering department to ensure its implementation.

The minister said the department has already been directed to provide a detailed list of potable water schemes by December 3, 2015. He vowed to personally inspect all drinking water facilities across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th,  2015.

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