'Water is a basic human right'

METRO Cash and Carry and P&G partner for Children's Safe Drinking Water programme

Procter and Gamble (P&G) announced its continued collaboration with METRO Cash and Carry and Health Oriented Preventive Education (HOPE) to provide clean drinking water to Pakistani communities in need through its Children's Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) programme.

P&G announced its commitment for the fourth year of its disaster-relief effort through this partnership to provide 11 million litres of clean drinking water to Pakistani communities during the year, reaching an estimated 50,000 people in need. It also announced its clean water cause programme running at all METRO stores in Pakistan since March 17. It continues till April 18. During this time, for every purchase of an Ariel, Safeguard, Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Pampers and Always product at a METRO store, P&G will donate the equivalent of a day's clean drinking water to the CSDW fund.

On this occasion, Astrid Teckentrup, the vice-president of sales for the company, said, "Lack of clean drinking water is a problem faced by millions of people worldwide on a daily basis. Clean water provides people the opportunity to move beyond basic survival and as a result, thrive through improved health and therefore the ability to attend school more regularly and better economic opportunities, especially for women."

"Water is a basic human right. It is unfortunate that a significantly overwhelming number of people all over Pakistan do not have access to clean drinking water," HOPE Chairperson Dr Mubina Agboatwalla said.



In celebration of World Water Day today, P&G will also release a powerful documentary in partnership with National Geographic to highlight the clean drinking water crisis and share the unique perspectives of three women from around the world who have benefitted from the CSDW programme.