Pakistan

World Water Day: Pakistan squarely in limelight

Water-borne diseases killing thousands of children per year.

Maha Mussadaq March 22, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of children will engage in activities organised by UN agencies across Pakistan today (Tuesday) to celebrate World Water Day, the aim of which is to highlight the importance of provision of safe drinking water for the improvement of health and social and economic development of the overall community.

This year's theme, “Water for cities: responding to the urban water challenge“ , focuses on the impact of rapid urbanisation on the availability of safe water. As Pakistan has one of the highest rates of urbanisation in South Asia, the theme is particularly relevant to the country as it struggles with its ability to provide clean drinking water.

According to figures provided by Unicef there are 1.1 billion people globally who lack access to clean and safe drinking water. In addition to this alarming disparity, there are also approximately 1.4 million children who die each year from water-borne diseases that can be easily prevented such as diarrhoea. In Pakistan it is estimated that as many as 60 million people do not have access to safe drinking water, and there are more than 100,000 child deaths per year that are a direct result of drinking unsafe water.

UN Agencies in collaboration with the ministry of environment have selected 840 children representing 143 schools from across the country to promote the World Water Day.

Unicef Deputy Representative for Pakistan, Karen Allen said, “Children represent today and tomorrow. Their ideas will make an impact not only by filtering through to their communities, but as they grow into adulthood."

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply @maitre: Don't worry our children won't survive to ever scold us if we allow the these rulers to continue with this.

maitre | 13 years ago | Reply Acces to potable water is the right of every citizen born on the planet. Unluckily our rulers ignore the importance and gives preferences to other less important issues. None of them has ever tried wholeheartedly to construct dams in this country. Instead, they rely on costly means of generation that are really looting our lay man every day with a spike in charges. Look at India, she has finalized 190 dams for the next five years plan, and we across the border are deep asleep about this enemy of ours who in coming days will become a 'djaal' on our waters. Even the African nations have more access to water than pakistanis. Wolrd water day is a wake up call for all of us to work together for our future generations and think of providing them with potable drinking water. Otherwise, our future children will scold us for being egoists.

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Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply @a ercelan: Water-borne diseases are not an issue that concerns those who matter in this land of the not so pure, if unsafe water causes death of 100,000 children over here then it's not enough as far as the elites of this land are concerned [they would wish these numbers to be much higher] , if 60 million of us are not getting safe clean water then it's their fault. Yes, children are future of a country and for this the rich have their children and if 60 million lives of ordinary Pakistanis are threatened ---- it does not matter there still are another too many around to do the dirt work for the elites of this land. It is our fault that we are so patient to tolerate this condition, it's our fault that we are so stupid to let ourselves be manipulated, by our so called leaders. We must come forward and force these usurpers of power here to invest in such essential things as clean water ------- they will have to do, if we force them or chase them.

a ercelan | 13 years ago | Reply the solutions are cheap but require will from not just government but all of us. if bottled water was banned from use by govt, perhaps only then will government act -- nothing like self-interest to get action! the right to life obviously includes potable water. why dont affectees take public action, starting with constitutional petition to enforce water treatment? privatisation wont do it - just think of kesc. in the usa, judiciary can enforce financial charge upon public funds. in our cities, we could ask for relief and remedy by a lien on taxes.

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