People in Pakistan are forced to drink contaminated water from ponds and lakes as people in many districts of Balochistan are facing shortage of clean water.
Severe shortage of clean water in Pakistan (symbolic photo)
According to the report of Geo News on Sunday, there has been a big increase in hepatitis cases in Balochistan due to lack of clean drinking water as well as severe shortage in water-filtration plants. According to the report, the province is facing acute shortage of clean drinking water, due to which people are forced to use the contaminated water of ponds and lakes.
Hepatitis C and B were confirmed in 10,000 patients across the province during the first six months of this year, according to hospital data. Out of the total, 3,000 patients were reported in Jaffrabad district alone. The second highest number of hepatitis patients was recorded in Lasbela, the native town of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal. During the investigation of 13,000 people, hepatitis was detected in 1,000 people here.
85 percent of the population of the province does not have clean water
Medical experts say that to prevent the increasing hepatitis and stomach diseases in Balochistan, it is necessary to provide clean drinking water to the citizens. Lack of clean drinking water is not the problem of just one division or district in Balochistan, but all the districts of the province are facing the same situation. According to government sources, 85 percent of Balochistan’s 12.3 million population does not have clean drinking water.
For example, Bhag tehsil of Bolan district is an unfortunate area where 50,000 people have not got clean water since the establishment of Pakistan. The Public Health Engineering Department (PHE) had set up three water supply schemes for Bhag tehsil but they all fell victim to corruption.
Government schemes fell victim to corruption
The Supreme Court took notice of non-supply of clean water in part and the issue was resolved temporarily. However, citizens are once again being forced to drink contaminated water as the filter plant installed there has stopped working. The federal government set up 100 water-filtration plants in 2005 to provide clean water to the people of Balochistan.
Seeing the success of this project, the federal government launched another project called ‘Clean Drinking Water for All’ in 2007. Under the scheme, the government had decided to set up 409 filtration plants in the state for Rs 75 crore. However, this project also became a victim of corruption and negligence.
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