Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Media A collection of stories by Journalists’ of Media Fellowship Programme Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the Media A collection of stories by Journalists’ of Media Fellowship Programme Young Journalist Media Fellowship Programme has been designed to build the capacity of young journalists of Pakistan who are interested to investigate water and sanitation problems in Pakistan and their relation with health and human development. This program will provide an opportunity for field visit; research and investigation about WSS related problems in Pakistan and provide a platform for young journalists to engender responsible and accurate coverage of water and sanitation issues. More specifically, programme aims to achieve following objectives:

 Sensitisation of policy makers through in-depth coverage of water and sanitation related problems, success stories and shaping public opinion  Creating awareness for behavioural change through stories  Recognise and promote the work of young journalists in the area of water and sanitation sector through giving them exposure of field

Cover photo: Neelama Kumari, 9, is seen here learning the steps involved in hand washing, Government Primary School (GPS) Harijan Colony Malan Hore Veena, Tharparkar, Pakistan, 2013. Mustafa Abdul Aziz Compilation and editing: Ayesha Javed February , 2015 Design and Printed: Opal Studios, Islamabad. Amar Guriro Environmental Journalist Coordinator Washmedia-South Asia

Amar Guriro is a print media journalist, a blogger, photographer, multimedia producer and a professional fixer based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. He is regional president of WashMedia-South Asia. WashMedia-South Asia is a forum of journalists from across South Asian countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka working on water and sanitation. He is IVLP fellow and also a media fellow of the UK-based NGO Water Aid Pakistan's media fellowship program since 2009.

He has contributed to several national and international publications, including BBC – Urdu, The Times (English), Himal SouthAsian, Nepal (English), Indian Marathi language paper Lokmat and also for Pakistani local and national newspapers. He can be reached at:[email protected]

Myra Imran The News, Islamabad

Myra Imran works as a staff reporter for The News in Islamabad and is an award-winning journalist. She is Joint Secretary for National Press Club, Islamabad. Myra reports on human rights issues including water and sanitation. Her expertise is on women issues. In 2010, the Supreme Court ordered legislation on acid crime following one of her stories on an acid burn victim who managed to take her case to the higher courts despite social odds. Myra has done several interviews for her paper besides covering extensively the activities of civil society in Pakistan. She has also reported for Radio Pakistan and has been on several television talk shows. She handles gender section of website JournalismPakistan.com.She was declared 'Media Woman of the Year' by the Excellence Award Foundation and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2009. The following year, she was presented the 'Benazir Women in Leadership Award' by the Ministry of Human Rights.In 2010 she directed a documentary on the post-earthquake situation in Balakot, one of the worst affected areas in the October 2005 earthquake. She has participated in several panel discussions and has spoken as guest speaker on the role of media in national and regional conferences.Myra is a US government's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) fellow and has attended hands-on training on social media in Denmark. She is on the visiting faculty of International Islamic University.

Imrana Komal Daily Express, Multan

Imrana Komal is a print media journalist; she works with the national Urdu daily Express, Multan. Imrana covers different issues, but her focus is to cover issues around women. She is extensively writing WASH issues faced by women of southern Punjab. She is the author of a book and also travelled extensively for trainings around journalistic practices. Hafeez Tunio Express Tribune, Karachi

Hafeez Tunio works as a reporter for The Express Tribune, Daily English newspaper affiliated with The International New York Times. Hafeez covers politics, environment, water and sanitation, human rights, minority and women issues. He says he wants to write on environmental issues, because he loves nature - in spite of what it did to him.

Aoun Sahi The News on Sunday, Islamabad

Aoun Sahi is a print media journalist based in Islamabad,Pakistan. He is working with The News on Sunday, the weekend magazine of The News International, since 2003 as reporter. A Daniel Pearl and Alfred Friendly Press fellow 2010, Sahi worked with The Wall Street Journal as reporter for six months as part of fellowship. He is also WaterAid Pakistan's media fellow since 2010. He covers crime, environment, water and sanitation, militancy, politics, security, and social issues. He has also contributed to Newsline, Agence France Presse, Inter Press Service and Western newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post.

Gonilla Gill Daily Dunya, Lahore

Gonila Gill is working as “Social Reporter” for the Urdu newspaper “Daily Dunya”. She is Fellow of Asian Journalism Fellowship program of 2012 in Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University – Singapore. During her professional career Kamran Michael Provisional Minister for Minorities and Human Rights presented her a Gold Medal on behalf of Saawan International magazine for her best reports on minorities, women and child rights and human rights.

Ramzan Chandio The Nation, Karachi

Ramzan Chandio is a staff reporter for The Nation, in Karachi, Pakistan. He is a media fellow of the UK-based NGO Water Aid Pakistan's media fellowship program since 2010. He specializes in reporting on parliamentary proceedings, Environment, Climate change, Disaster risks and Wash and Human rights issues. Ramzan has vast experience in reporting on politics, policies of Pakistan related issues in context to their affects on masses. Ramzan has reported in The News (Pakistan), Daily News (Pakistan) and in Sindhi language newspapers too. www.ramzanchandio.blogspot.com www.ramzanchandio.wordpress.com WATER

Water in the pipeline Aoun Sahi March 2, 2014 People of Bhalwal are yet to benefit from the newly- launched water scheme in the area. Sheikh Abdul Hameed, a 59- year-old resident of Al-Fazal Town in Bhalwal tehsil of Sargodha district, has started getting clean drinking water at his home for the first time. “I town was put at Rs60 million started leaking,” he says, am the fifth in my street to get and a contract was awarded to adding that 4,000 households the connection of water being a Lahore-based construction would be provided water provided under the newly- company. But the company connections under the project. launched scheme,” he tells completed only 45 per cent of “The PML-N government TNS. The water scheme was the work and never came back. believes in completing projects started in the town in 2006 “The company which is owned in time in Lahore only,” he under Punjab Municipal by the brother of a PML-N MNA says. Development Fund Company from Lahore not only delayed In 2012, the government of (PMDFC) which launched the work but also got most of its Punjab requested Nazir Ahmed Punjab Municipal Services bills approved during the last Wattoo, chief of Anjuman Improvement Project (PMSIP) PML-N government in Punjab,” Samaji Bahbood (ASB), a with financial assistance from a senior official of TMA Bhalwal Faisalabad-based civil society the World Bank. The scheme tells TNS. Again in 2012, work organisation expert in water was supposed to be completed on the project was started with and sanitation issues, to help in three years, but it has not a revised cost of Rs130 million. TMA Bhalwal manage the been made fully functional “The contract was awarded to a scheme under Changa Pani even after eight years in 2014. new company which has Project (CPP), a public and The initial cost of laying water almost completed its job, but private partnership aimed at and sewerage pipelines in the most of the pipes have already providing sustainable water

03 and sanitation system Bhalwal in 1927 which could (TMO), Bhalwal. involving local communities. not cater to the requirements Hameed, who shifted to the Wattoo has formed a of increasing population of the neighbourhood two decades committee of local people and area. But consecutive ago, used to travel five TMA officials which oversees governments in Punjab kilometres on his motorbike to the project. neglected the area and did not fetch water for drinking and CPP has been termed a great provide adequate water and cooking purposes. success in its pilot project in sanitation facilities in the “Underground water in our city Lahore, but it has been facing town. is not healthy at all. We either problems in Bhalwal. “In The town's current population have to fetch water from tube- Lahore, we were involved from is around 100,000 which wells near canal bank or buy it the planning stage. We worked would reach around 150,000 from local vendors who sell with local community, in 2025. Majority of the drinking water in plastic sensitised it first and then population is still living bottles,” he says, adding that executed the scheme. In without water and sanitation connection fees for the new Bhalwal, the infrastructure was facilities. water scheme is Rs3500 which laid down by the contractor is a big amount for the poor and we intervened almost at Underground water in people in his area. “We are the end of the scheme. It is Bhalwal is brackish also not sure whether this true that we have been facing scheme will succeed or not. which is unfit for human different challenges, but The water supply remains hopefully we will overcome consumption. There are disturbed most of the time due them and make the community two water supply zones to different reasons. In many realise that the project belongs in the city; the first areas, the water pipelines have to them and they have to invest comprises old portion of already been damaged,” in it,” Wattoo says. “People in the city while the second Hameed says. “It was promised Pakistan believe that water that water would be provided should be provided to them is situated along the 24-hour uninterrupted under without any cost. People take Bhalwal-Sargodha road. the new scheme but it seems a water for granted. Water is a distant dream. Leakage of commodity which has been Underground water in Bhalwal, pipelines is a routine matter depleting fast in our country according to Tehsil Municipal which results in suspension of and we need to manage it Administration (TMA), is the water.” properly.” Under this scheme, brackish which is unfit for So far, only 270 people have 24/7 water would be provided human consumption. There are got connections. Majority of to 4,000 households in the two water supply zones in the them want to get the water town. city; the first comprises old connection for free. “World Bhalwal is not a very old town portion of the city which is also Bank has given the money for as it was established under the the commercial centre while the project but now we are colonisation of West Punjab in the second is situated along being asked to pay money to the last quarter of 19th the Bhalwal-Sargodha road. get connection. It should be century. It was a planned “There is only a small portion free,” Muhammad Arshad, a colony town which was along the canal on the resident of Al-Fazal Colony, designed by Sir Malkan Hailey, outskirts of town where we tells TNS. the first colony officer of the could find sweet water fit for Rehan Butt, a community area. The first water supply human consumption,” says leader and part of the scheme was laid down in Rana Muhammad Jameel committee which oversees the Akhter, Tehsil Municipal Officer

04 project in Bhalwal town, says its parliamentarians to take that people need to ownership of the project to understand the importance of make it a success.” water and the project. “The success of this project is very important. A household usually spends Rs20 on drinking water a day which is A hospital brought to them in unhygienic plastic bottles. That is the without water reason that waterborne diseases are on the rise in our Hafeez Tunio town. People need to take August 14, 2013 ownership of the project.” The circumstances public hospitals in the country. Rehan Butt says, “There are The hospital currently faces a different reasons for the at Jinnah Hospital water shortage with visitors leakage of the pipelines. It is having to run back and forth true that the contractor did not are bleak at best and from neighbouring restaurants use good material. We have authorities should and mosques to secure water repaired pipes from over 150 for themselves. The hospital, places after the contractor urgently act to unfortunately, is in such poor completed the project and improve them. condition that visitors coming handed over it to TMA. The Not that being a doctor has ever from hours away are made to capacity of the main water tank been a glamorous job, contrary wait out on the footpath for is 100,000 gallons which is to what is sometimes portrayed several days because all wards enough to provide 24/7 water on television and in movies, but are occupied. Given the bleak to 2500 households with being a doctor in Pakistan is circumstances at Jinnah pressure, but so far only 270 sometimes the antithesis of a Hospital, all authorities households have got glamorous job. Take, for concerned are asked to urgently connections. So, when we example, Jinnah Postgraduate act to improve the distressing release water from the main Medical Centre in Karachi, situation. water tank, it becomes difficult which houses one of the largest for the pipelines to hold the Water is vital to life, especially pressure.” According to TMA officials, there is no culture of paying water bills in the city. “We only charge Rs360 per year per connection under the old scheme which was built around 40 years back in the town. Majority of connections holders never paid their bills,” says an official of TMA. “Nazir Wattoo has been working day and night but the Punjab government also needs to take People have to rush to nearby areas to get water. PHOTO: FILE the project seriously and ask

05 for the ill. The fact that the water is being diverted to the water, a problem has been hospital runs out of drinking hospital's laundry, which is identified and a solution must water is a shame and points to being used on a commercial now be found. The way to go the hospital's incompetency. A basis by nearby dry cleaners about finding this solution is second fact pointing to this is and residents. This practice is by calling the KWSB and the the lack of water in its unethical and if true, must be Jinnah Hospital administration lavatories, which is essential stopped immediately, by the to sit with the Public Works for obvious hygiene purposes. hospital administration. Department, which is Hygiene is a top priority of Rather than playing the blame responsible for the hospitals the world over and it game of not enough water maintenance of the hospital, is terrible that it is not even on being supplied by the Karachi and first dissect the causes of the priority list for this hospital Water and Sewerage Board the problem. Solutions then located in Pakistan's largest (KWSB) or the hospital need to be found — and city. Further woeful is that a administration not doing an quickly, before the situation senior official at the hospital efficient job of allocating the deteriorates further. alleges a high portion of the

Drip...drip...drip: Sindh MPAs stare at drinking water crisis Hafeez Tunio April 15, 2014 This was the first Town, Qasba Colony and This was the first time an MPA Gulshan-e-Iqbal have started from the MQM openly criticised time an MPA from occupying water pumps and the KWSB and the city the MQM openly disrupting the law and order administration. situation. The Karachi Water According to Hussain, Karachi criticised KWSB and and Sewerage Board (KWSB) used to get 115 million gallons and the local government have per day (MGD) from Hub but city administration. failed to provide the citizens of They believe water shortage in the quantity has been reduced to 40MGD. He requested the Karachi and other districts of KARACHI: Water, house to form a committee to the province might trigger a according to members of 'civil war.' visit different areas of the city the Sindh Assembly, is in order to understand the “For the last four to five going to be the next big suffering of the residents. months there has been no crisis in the city. water in many areas of Sindh's Information and Local Karachi,” said Muttahida Government Minister, Sharjeel Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA this city with water.” He added Inam Memon, acknowledged Muhammad Hussain. “The that concrete measures should the water crisis and said residents of Baldia, Orangi be taken before the water district West and Central were problem spirals out of control. the worst affected in the city.

06 Sindh was brought up by the MQM's Naheed Begum. She asked the House why water mixed with industrial waste from the Punjab was being disposed off in Sindh. “We want to know if the provincial government has ever registered a complaint or protest with the authorities of the other province,” she said. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, said they had taken up the issue with the Government of Punjab and would raise it again if the problem persisted. Sindh information minister speaking during the assembly session on Monday. Photo: PPI The MPA said Ghotki is one of the most fertile lands in the The minister said the situation provincial government in many province and was turning had become worse as it hadn't areas of the city to convert barren. In addition, she said, rained in some time and Hub brackish water into potable.” the water was causing gastro diseases in the area. Dam was drying up fast. In As the MPAs continued to talk addition, he said, the illegal about water, Pakistan Peoples The members of the Assembly hydrant mafia had grown and Party's (PPP) Nadir Magsi demanded the federal people were stealing water brought up the issue of illegal government to implement the from the main supply lines. water courses set up by the 1991 accord in order to provide Memon added that his people of Balochistan at Sindh with the water it was due department had written letters Saifullah Magsi Canal in and stop illegal canals – to the Rangers and IG police for Qambar-Shahdahkot district. Chasma and Jhelum link canals their help in taking action He said that officials from the – which according to them take against the illegal hydrant province's irrigation up most of the water coming in operators. department were involved in from the Indus River. The minister believed that K- stealing water and creating an Hostage release artificial shortage. Electric was to be blamed for Pakistan Muslim League- hours of loadshedding at the This prompted PPP MPA Nawab Functional's Nusrat Seher water pumping stations. “K- Taimur Talpur to move a Abbasi questioned the Electric being private utility resolution demanding the performance of the Home company has made the lives of provinicial government remove Department, which is currently citizens miserable,” he said. “It illegal outlets from the main being looked after by the Chief has become a mafia. Despite canals and take action against Minister of Sindh. paying millions of rupees, the the irrigation officials. “After negotiations between power utility company has yet Toxic water the Taliban and federal to provide electricity government to release connection for River Osmosis The issue of poisonous water militants, notorious dacoits are Plant (ROs) established by the flowing from the Punjab to

07 also being released from the people, including minors, are according to him were jails in Sindh,” she said, being held hostage by dacoits kidnapped by people dressed referring to the release of a but we don't see much effort in plain clothes. kidnapped Hindu on the part of government.” Memon said the violence did businessman, Lachman Das, She asked the Chief Minister not have anything to do with in Sukkur. His abductors, she to brief the house about what ethnicity or sects. said, were paid Rs6 million in was being done about the ransom and had asked for the prisoners release. During the session the release of their men from jail. Assembly adopted a Sectarian violence unanimous resolution to “We, as lawmakers of this The leader of the opposition, initiate compulsory vocational house, are confused as to how Faisal Subzwari, raised the technical training at juvenile the affairs of the home issue of sectarian violence and jails in the province to develop department are being run,” 45 persons of the MQM who skills among the prisoners. said Abbasi. “More than 50 were still missing, and who,

Where dose all the water go? Kalbe Ali July 13, 2014 Despite being has yet to seep into gratuitous wastage of an already-dwindling water constantly our national supply. highlighted as a consciousness. Many sectors of the capital are already facing an acute water major future The Capital Development shortage, but at the same Authority, responsible for time, neither citizens nor problem for the providing residents of administrators seem to be too entire country, Islamabad with life-nurturing worried about plugging the water, seems oblivious to the holes in the city's water supply water conservation impending shortage and has lines. is a concept that taken no action over the A collective public welfare water supply system established by the slum dwellers in F-7. But in the process, there is a small stream running all the time wasting water into the nullah below. Fresh water from the Khanpur Dam flows into a nullah from the main supply line under a bridge between F-10 and F-11 sector. There is also leakage

08 some residents of the G-7 sector 'chill out' during these scorching days. The shopkeepers and the residents of illegal hutments have established a public bath hidden in the bushes along a main trunk sewerage line in G-7 sector. But they did not bother to understand the meaning of

from the valve. This main pipe due to the carelessness of the was damaged with a saw by department concerned of the labourers working on different projects to obtain water. But like illegal connections, the authorities seem indifferent to such tampering of the main pipe. Not all the leakages are caused by labourers and slum conserving potable water dwellers, however, many are Local villagers and shopkeepers take a bath at a broken water pipeline in Bari Imam area A leaking joint at the main water trunk in G-8 sector

CDA such as this manhole which houses a water supply valve and is filled almost all the time due to dripping. Here,

provides an excellent spot for the locals to cool off in the sizzling summer. But the amount of water lost in the process is not accounted for by the engineering department of the CDA.

09 Drops of life: 'New blood in KWSB could fix water woes' Hafeez Tunio August 14, 2013 Head of NED spoke to the eager audience used in case of emergencies – for nearly an hour, pausing it has become a commercial University's archit- occasionally to let the enterprise.” Prof. Ahmed audience take in a number added that the city's water ecture department large maps and thought- board is mired in debt. “It owes discusses water provoking shots of Karachi's more than Rs52 million to slums woven into the international donors,” he said, issues in Karachi. presentation. adding this was why there were The Karachi Water and There's not enough water to go plans to privatise the Sewerage Board (KWSB) seems organisation back in 1995. to be struggling to quench the around because of political thirst of a thriving city of 18 interference, aging He added that urban water million people. One way it can infrastructure, unprecedented supply is conventionally improve the situation is to development and a swelling facilitated through an bring new blood on board, said population, said Prof. Ahmed. underground pipe system. In Prof. Noman Ahmed, the “The city's daily water most developing countries, the chairperson of NED University's requirement is 837 million system is underdeveloped and Architecture Department. gallons,” he said. doesn't meet demand. Prof. Ahmed said that communities On Wednesday Oxford “The water board is inefficient and the alleged 'tanker mafia' in such countries turn to University Press, in order to alternative sources to obtain mark World Environment Day, doesn't want the city's demand for water to be met for its own water. “They include organised a seminar at which boreholes, water tankers, Prof. Ahmed delivered a lecture benefit. “Getting water through tankers is no longer an option pumps and drawing water on Karachi's water woes. He informally through the main.” Prof. Ahmed then offered a couple of suggestions which could help alleviate the situation: the utility has to be revamped by injecting fresh blood into it and making it an attractive place to work for competent professionals. He added that the current tariff structure must also be revised. Prof. Ahmed said consumers must pay the water board for

10 its services – currently around receive water through tankers. 10 per cent of them pay their bills. He said the water board's inability to respond to complaints, the ad hoc way in which the utility functions and MUCH OF THE poor consumer relations also disrupt smooth water supply in city. WORLD REMAINS He added that a regulatory body should be formed to OFF-TRACK TO MEET oversee the supply of potable water, focus on consumers' concerns and ensure that all THE MDG WATER AND dues are collected promptly. A master plan to revamp service SANITATION TARGETS based on scientific planning and management should be sketched out, said Prof. Ahmed. Oxford University Press has also published Prof. Ahmed's book on the subject titled 'Water Supply in Karachi: Issues and Prospects'. Sale of water through tankers banned in Hyderabad Hyderabad Development Authority's Director General, Ghulam Muhammad Kaimkhani, has banned the sale of water through private tankers. He announced the ban at a meeting with Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) officials on Wednesday. The decision came following the orders of Governor Ishratul Ebad, who had been getting complaints about a 'tanker mafia' causing an artificial shortage of water. Kaimkhani asked WASA's Managing Director, Salimuddin, to stop the system whereby people were signing contracts to

11 Researchers say Karachi's tap water isn't adequately filtered Hafeez Tunio June 14, 2013

Experts gather at Urban Resource Centre to discuss lack of potable water. KARACHI: Research conducted by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has led experts to believe that in the city by the sea, there's hardly any potable water. As a part of the research, 28 samples of water were collected from different A resident of North Karachi holds up a bottle full of tap localities of Karachi. Of them, only two were fit for water inside his home. Research has led health experts consumption. Rubina Jaffri, the to believe that water supplied to a lot of areas in the general manager of Health and city isn't fit for consumption. PHOTO: FILE Nutrition Development Society (Hands), used this research as plants. She added that 20 per children under the age of five one of the many examples in cent of the water is lost is 101 deaths per 1,000 and her talk on the city's water because of leaking pipes while diarrhoea – one of the biggest supply at Urban Resources 15 per cent is siphoned off by killers – emerges from Centre on Wednesday. water thieves . contaminated water and poor She said that 86 percent of the She added that the water hygiene. water samples were board doesn't adequately filter She added that in a survey contaminated with pathogens the water, which is why its conducted by Hands, 93 per which cause diseases, such as quality is compromised – cent of the respondents said cholera, typhoid, bacillary and according to Karachi Water and they use tap water for hepatitis. Sewerage Board (KWSB), 60 household chores. Nine Jaffri added that approximately percent of bulk water supply is percent buy bottled water 640 MGD of water is being filtered while around 40 while around 80 per cent just supplied to Karachi, out of percent is chlorinated. drink tap water, added Jaffri. which 440 MGD is being Jaffri told the audience that in She said that after consuming filtered at seven filtration Pakistan, the mortality rate for contaminated water, both

12 adults and children commonly report symptoms such as stomach pains, vomiting, Harvesting rainwater: diarrhoea, headaches and sore throats. Hepatitis is another Clean drinking water real danger of consuming water which hasn't been treated. saves some lives in Thar Some of the survey's respondents stated that they Hafeez Tunio used water without boiling or July 13, 2014 filtering it first. A portion of them said they boil water only Villagers are storing While talking to The Express when their children fall sick. Tribune, Heero claimed that She told the audience that rainwater in man- their children were healthy according to the UN Human made ponds which compared to those living in Rights Policy, it is the nearby villages. government's responsibility to can hold around provide people with an 30,000 litres of “It is because we harvest adequate amount of safe, the rainwater. We store it in filtered, potable water. water this nadi pond [man-made The Moori Ji Wandh village, ponds],” he said while located five kilometres away pointing towards a small from Mithi, has seen no pond which was about four deaths during the drought. metres deep and has a storage capacity of 30,000 THERE GO THE BUGS This is because they save rainwater for later use. litres. One end of the nadi pond, he said, was closed MITHI: There is a village five off with a flat sheet while 440 kilometres away from Mithi the other side – which was MGD of the Town where, unlike the rest higher, had a cane on top. of Tharparkar, no child has died in the last two years. There is a 75mm thick layer 640 of concrete around 1,066 Medical records and MGD of water interviews with the supplied to karachi is residents of the Moori Ji filtered, according to Wandh village show that Rubina Jaffri, the safe drinking water is what general manager of saved their lives in the Health and Nutrition drought affected area of Development Society Mithi, Tharparkar. (Hands) “Three children have died in a village next to ours,” said Heero Bheel, a villager. “But we are all fine and healthy. There is no disease here.”

13 feet catchment of the nadi maintain the rainwater Water woes pond where the rainwater harvesting systems to Ali Akbar Rahimoon, a is collected and can be ensure that their drinking social activist from filled up within 30 minutes water demand was met. Tharparkar claimed that – even in 70 to 80 mm of While responding to a there was a great potential rainfall. question about how the to harvest rain water in the “We cover the roof of the lack of rainfall affected this area but due to the pond and install a system, Raja said that unavailability of a structure geometric sheet inside to there was at least 60mm to or awareness about water curb the slow seepage,” 100mm rainfall twice a conservation, the villagers said Mukesh Raja, year. He added that while would not be able to do it. programme coordinator of this might not be enough He said that while some the Sukkar Foundation, an for agricultural purposes, it organisations had run NGO that has provided the could be easily used to successful pilot projects it village with 10 nadi ponds. harvest drinking water. was primarily the “Each pond provides water government's As word spread, many to four households for responsibility. people in Mithi, Diplo, three to four months.” He Islamkot and Chelhar According to Rahimoon, added that they had adopted similar rainwater the World Health around 20 different harvesting techniques Organisation (WHO) has villages in three talukas of without any help from the set a limit according to district Tharparkar with government or NGOs. which a person cannot these ponds. drink more than 1.5mg of “There were around 20 Raja claimed that fluoride per litre but they wells near our villages communities in over one were forced to drink water which had contaminated hundred villages had been with high levels of fluoride ground water,” said mobilised to start doing toxicity. Haresh, a primary school this on their own. teacher from Deedsar. According to a research “We have introduced “Now, three villages have study conducted by the another method for the built their own nadi and Pakistan Council for villagers to get clean chora ponds. Each house Research in Water water,” he said. “Locally now gets around five Resources, the total we call it chonara pond. It buckets of water.” domestic water need for is a large ground water Thar equals to 0.25 per According to Haresh, the tank and has the storage cent of the total annual water doesn't go bad for capacity of at least 50,000 rainfall in the area. This months due to the way the litres.” He added that means that there is need ponds are built. He said community based to improve the capacity to that this was because they organisations had been harvest it. used bio-sand to filter it. formed to look after and

14 World water day 2014: When water is death Hafeez Tunio March 22, 2013 The quality of “The worst situaon of quality common source of drinking water is in southern parts of water, is considered a worldwide water and its Punjab and Sindh,” said Wateraid public health crisis and an availability is a Pakistan Programme Manager, unprecedented natural disaster. Policy and Advocacy, Abdul Hafeez said that underground serious issue in Hafeez. Informaon on the water consumpon in Pakistan is official website of Pakistan Pakistan. very common, and people use KARACHI / THARPARKAR: Khalid Jogee is afraid of ever staying a night in any village of Sindh. His experience of staying a night at Dalan Jo Tarr located in Taluka Chachro, district Tharparkar, was nothing short of a nightmare. “I can't even imagine the kind of water my relaves use,” Jogee said. “It was one of the worst experiences of my life, staying in the village and having to use and consume the water. My whole body was swollen. I was unable to see properly,” he shared. “Ever since, I do visit the village but I stay on only unl I have my own The quality of water and its availability is a serious water,” he smiled. “Whenever I visit any village anywhere in issue in Pakistan. Photo: PPI Sindh, I ask about the source of the water and don't use it if it is Council of Research in Water the water without proper tesng. groundwater.” Resources (PCRWR) confirms “The quality of water and its that the concentraon of arsenic availability is a serious issue in With the recent focus on the in groundwater of several Pakistan,” he added. He urged suffering of the people of districts of Punjab and Sindh the government to look into the Tharparkar, a very important provinces has been observed maer seriously, suggesng that point is the crux of the problems through different water quality raising awareness about this of this region as well as many studies conducted by PCRWR, could reduce the incidence of regions of Pakistan – the lack of further adding that the natural water-borne diseases. access to clean water fit for presence of arsenic and other human consumpon. According to Hafeez, the toxins in groundwater, the most increased death toll in

15 Tharparkar is the outcome of September 2009. “Sindh has not prior tesng, to name a few. If the unavailability of water, and the made a policy yet.” water is salty, they believe they water available being of bad Another social acvist and writer, won't need addional salt in their quality. Bharo Amrani, said that a foods. “The people of Thar don't use separate water policy is required The coastal regions of Sindh are drinkable water,” said Zafar for Tharparkar. “The major issue more vulnerable. “I have to Junejo, CEO Thardeep. “The of Thar is water and all major purchase water though I stay on available water is not fit for sources of earning depend upon the bank of the river,” said Mai human consumpon,” Junejo water.” Hoor who lives near Ke Bunder. stressed. He said that different Environmentalist Nasir Ali The water supply schemes and kinds of resulng diseases include Panhwar said that per capita filtraon projects in rural areas of kidney failure, liver disease, bone water availability in Pakistan has Sindh are missing. “I have heard formaon, teeth decaying and reduced from 5,650 cubic meter that the water available in our skin diseases. per person in 1951 to current village is contaminated but we Junejo informed this 1,000 cubic meter per person. He have to consume it; there is no correspondent that not only said that 60 per cent of infant other opon,” said Ibrahim Pali of fluoride but other elements like deaths are caused by waterborne Seerani, a small town of Badin. lead and arsenic are also found in infecons. Panwhar added that Being one of the aged persons of the available water across the 250,000 children die each year in the area, Pali believed that most desert. “The water table will be Pakistan because of waterborne diseases in his area increased disturbed in some parts of the diseases, referring to USAID data, when the taste of water changed. district in the coming years,” he and that stagnant dirty water, “The enre populaon of Thaa warned, adding that appropriate both in rural and urban areas, city is being provided measures should immediately be account for a large number of contaminated water,” said Imam taken. deaths caused by fatal diseases Dino from Thaa. “Industrial “The access to drinkable water is like cholera, malaria, dysentery waste is being released in the the major issue of Tharparkar,” and typhoid. According to WHO main supply canal from Jamshoro said the execuve director of the reports, 25 to 30 per cent of to Karachi.” hospital admissions in Pakistan Associaon for Water Applied “The guers and water lines go Educaon and Renewable Energy are connected to waterborne and bacterial parasite diseases. together not only in Johi but (AWARE), a non-governmental across the province,” Aslam organizaon, Ali Akbar Rahimoon. In Sindh alone, the people of Khushak, a resident of Dadu He cricized the lack of a Naro, district Khairpur, Achhro commented. “You say water is life drinkable water policy, saying that Thar of district Sanghar, Badin, but it is death actually in Sindh. the federal government had Thaa, Jamshoro and Dadu also Not blood but toxic water runs in made the first such policy in use underground water without our veins.”

16 Clean water: WASA refuses to share 'accurate' study on arsenic levels Sonia malik July 30, 2012 Arsenic removal with water between 10ppb and 50ppb. The study was plants installed at conducted after the Lahore High Court had taken suo motu 7 of 14 sites. notice of press reports of an LAHORE: Environmental Protection The Water and Sanitation Department study that found Agency (WASA) has refused to arsenic contamination at 253 disclose where in the city of 392 tubewells. arsenic levels in the water WASA officials had criticised exceed 10 parts per billion the study, saying the EPD had (ppb), the acceptable used faulty methodology. concentration level set by the Zainab said that the WASA and World Health Organisation PU study was more accurate as (WHO). it used a more advanced WASA chemist Zainab told The technique called inductively Express Tribune that WASA and coupled plasma mass the Environmental Science spectrometry (ICP-MS). WASA officials said that they had so far installed Department of Punjab The LHC disposed of the case 44 filtration plants, each University tested water from after the WASA Managing costing around Rs1 457 tubewells last year and Director told the court that it found that, in 14 samples, the planned to install filtration million, and would install levels of arsenic exceeded 50 plants at each of Lahore's 150 six more by the end of ppb, the acceptable level for union councils. August. Pakistan, as set by the Pakistan Standard and Quality WASA officials said that they Ground; Township; Iqbal Park; Control Authority (PSQCA). had so far installed 44 Jahangir Road near However, she refused to say filtration plants, each costing Mughalpura; and Ghaziabad exactly how far these samples around Rs1 million, and would Main Bazaar. exceeded the 50ppb install six more by the end of threshold. August. Plants have been set Work on a plant at Kohlu Ghar up at seven places where the near Misri Shah bridge is At 173 tubewells, the level of WASA study found water to be underway, while plants are yet arsenic was found to be above most contaminated with to be installed at Rafiabad 10ppb, the acceptable limit set arsenic. These places are Darbar near Bund Road; Old by the WHO and most National Town, Raj Garh; Ravi; Paracha Colony; Yousaf developed countries. The Corporation Society in Park near Sheihkupura Road; WASA chemist refused to say Islampura, Sanda; Patiala Majeed Park; and Aziz Colony. which areas were supplied

17 These are the other places places as they were too plant that must be collected in where arsenic levels exceed congested. Each plant requires bottles or buckets. 50ppb. Work on an arsenic building a room measuring 12 Studies have shown that long- removing plant is also feet by 12 feet. term exposure to arsenic underway at Brandreth Road, Chaudhry Aftab, another increases the risk of skin, lung, where the concentration level engineer working on the bladder, kidney and liver is between 10 and 40ppb. project, said that the plants cancer, as well as various other Tanveer Ahmad, a senior could not filter all the water illnesses. High arsenic levels construction engineer at the from the tubewell, so residents also affect reproduction and WASA, said that they had been did not get filtered water at child development. unable to find space to install their homes. The filtered water filtration plants at the above is available through taps at the Slow death: Drinking water in 130 areas unsafe for consumption Sonia malik October 1, 2012 Arsenic levels (PSQCA) is 50ppb. Of the areas 2002, complied with it by surveyed, water at 15 locations 2006. exceed Pakistan exceeds the PSQCA limit. It, however, remains fixed at Standards and Around 47 sites had arsenic 50ppb for countries with concentration ranging between inadequate detection Quality Control 40ppb and 50 ppb; as many as measuring facilities like Authority safe 70 areashave arsenic Pakistan, Bangladesh and concentration ranging between India. Other countries with the levels in 15 areas. 30ppb and 40 ppb. 50ppb limit include Bahrain, LAHORE: The groundwater At 173 tubewells, the level of Bolivia, China, Egypt, pumped by WASA tubewells Indonesia, Oman, Philippines, and supplied to more than 130 arsenic was above 10ppb. Forty-seven of the tubewells Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, areas in Lahore for drinking Vietnam and Zimbabwe. contains arsenic well above 10 had between 40ppb and parts per billion (ppb), the 50ppb of arsenic. The study was a joint venture World Health Organisation In 1993, the WHO had set the between the Water and (WHO) guideline, reveals a standard for arsenic in drinking Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and study available to The Express water at 10ppb. Since then the the Punjab University's Tribune. standard has been Department of Environmental Engineering. The safe arsenic level set by implemented in most of the the Pakistan Standards and developed countries. America, The agency commissioned the Quality Control Authority which adopted the standard in study after the Lahore High

18 Court took suo motu notice, in 2010, of news reports regarding an Environmental Protection Department study. The study had found dangerous levels of arsenic in 253 of 392 tubewells in the city. The court disposed of the notice after the Wasa MD assured the court that he will install arsenic filtration plants in areas with high arsenic levels. He had also assured the court that the agency will commission another study to measure arsenic levels. WASA is going to install 50 arsenic removal plants A fresh study was across the city in collaboration with the KSB Pumps. commissioned in early 2011. It Photo: FILE. was finished in December the same year. It has been detected in two the water at the consumer end The agency has not shared the cusec tube wells setting water is diluted compared with the findings with the media or the from depth of 650 feet as well water at the source,” Shah said public. as four cusec tube wells of the areas with high levels of drilling it from 750 feet.” arsenic. A senior WASA officer, who spoke to The Tribune on Wasa Managing Director Asked why the agency had not condition anonymity, said Chaudhry Abdullah made made the public aware seven arsenic concentrations well himself unavailable for years ago that high levels of above the safe level had been comment. arsenic had been detected in detected in groundwater in the Asked why the results of the Lahore's water supply, he said, entire upper Indus plain. study had not been made “We have better things to do. This was never an emergency.” The official said arsenic had public Iqtidar Shah, the been first detected in Lahore's agency's deputy managing 50 arsenic removal plants groundwater seven years ago. director (operations and being installed He said although in many management), replied “There The Water and Sanitation countries arsenic among other is no need [to do that].” Agency (Wasa) is going to heavy metal seep into the He said the report had been install 50 arsenic removal ground as a result of using shared with the Planning and plants across the city in sewage water contaminated Development Department and collaboration with the KSB with industrial effluents in the Finance Department so Pumps. The agency started the raising crops, that is not the that sites could be chosen for installation in June. case in Pakistan. the installing of arsenic Each of the plants purifies up “It is present in the aquifer and removing plants. to 4,000 litres of water per has no relation to the depth “There is no need for an hour and has a storage from where the water is lifted. awareness campaign because capacity of 400 litres.

19 Muhammad Tayyab, a KSB affect the purification process, Arsenic: a carcinogen Pumps employee, told The in some places the plants run A 1999 study by the National Tribune that 46 plants had out of water if electricity is out Academy of Sciences in the US been installed, most of them in for too long. had declared arsenic as a central Lahore. Naveed Mazhar, a deputy carcinogen and a major cause Tayyab said areas with the director at Wasa, said the of cancers of the bladder, lung highest levels of arsenic had Planning and Development and skin. It can also cause gotten the plants first. “The Department had been asked to kidney and liver cancer. The residents of the area have approve another Rs8 million, study found that arsenic harms been informed about the so that 42 more plants could the central and peripheral problem and most of them now be installed. nervous systems, the heart fetch water from the plant,” he Sajjad Haydar, a professor at and blood vessels and causes said. the Institute of Environmental skin diseases. It can also Sumaira, a resident of Engineering and Research at cause birth defects and Faizabad Bazaar, said that her UET, said that though GFH was reproductive problems. family did not receive any such an effective method for According to the WHO website, information. purifying water, the absorption drinking arsenic-rich water The plants, he said, remove capacity of the membrane over a long period (5 to 20 arsenic through GFH (granular decreases with time. Haydar years) can cause arsenicosis ferric hydroxide) adsorption said the membrane will need (arsenic poisoning). But technology. The water is then to be replaced after every three according to the WHO, passed through an ultra years. The purified water also “absorption of arsenic through filtration membrane to remove needs to be regularly tested to the skin is minimal and thus microbes. ascertain when it is time to hand-washing, bathing, replace the membrane. Wasa laundry, etc. with water Tayyab said power outages says they have taken samples containing arsenic do not pose caused plants to shut down for once since the installation of human health risks.” up to two hours or more. the plants. Though power outages do not

How clean is your water? 15 areas with arsenic levels above 50 ppb

47 areas containing arsenic levels between 40 ppb and 50 ppb Ganj Baksh Town

20 A copy of the report can be viewed at http://www.scribd.com/doc/108543965/Drinking-water-in- 130-areas-of-Lahore-unsafe-for-consumption

21 Rising water insecurities can propel conflicts in future: experts Sonia malik March 22, 2014 Arsenic levels comprehensive framework for water will increase. the country,” said Executive “Competition over water exceed Pakistan Director of Strengthening resources is already on a rise Participatory Organisation among municipalities, farmers, Standards and (SPO) Naseer Memon. He said industrial and power suppliers, Quality Control that equity and access to clean as evident in many parts of the water and sanitation have world including Pakistan.” Authority safe become major issues for a Qamar Zaman, Senior Advisor levels in 15 areas. number of local communities Climate Change LEAD Pakistan, Islamabad in the country. said climate change is a There is a need for Executive Director of priority agenda globally. conservation and proper Sustainable Development “However, the issue is not management of water Policy Institute (SDPI) Abid given as much importance in resources in the country as Suleri said stressed the need Pakistan. rising water insecurities can for greater political wisdom to Pakistan's vulnerability to propel conflicts in the future. address policy gaps in water climate change has also been The concern was shared by a related issues. He said that the on the rise over the last few number of experts and media and the civil society can years, as evident by erratic community members at a play a key role in sensitizing movements in the frequency of seminar 'Water for Future: policy- makers over crucial rainfall. Pakistan's climate Perspectives from Pakistan' issues. change policy should focus on organised on Friday to mark Shahid Ahmed from the adoption of frameworks being the World Water Day 2014. International Union for developed globally,” he The speakers highlighted that Conservation of Nature (IUCN), recommended. there is no policy framework said unless the sewage system Dr Fatah Murree, project for water management in is not properly managed in director of Sindh Water Sector Pakistan. “Water variability is Pakistan, water related issues Improvement Project, said at also high in the country; cannot be resolved. “Pakistan micro level, we have water and certain areas have higher also lacks severely in water- sanitation issue, which should availability of water resources borne transportation. The be address in local while others continue to suffer biogas produced from sewage government law. He said that from severe droughts. can also be used as fuel for drinking water and health Policy frameworks should be vehicles,” he said. issue should also be resolved. developed at the provincial He shared that water has Community from all over the level, and should be become an increasingly scarce country also shared their consolidated into a resource and as energy problems related to water demand grows, conflicts over shortage, floods and health

22 issues due to industrial therefore a need to develop a pumps, for irrigation purposes wastage dumping in fresh policy framework that deals in Pakistan. The event was water. with all three of these issues in organised by leading Shakeel Ahmed, head of a holistic manner. development sectors Climate Change Study Centre, Muhammad Saleem Malik from organisations including SDPI observed that water, the Pakistan Agricultural Oxfam, SPO, SDPI, IUCN, PARC, energy and food securities are Research Council presented Indus Consortium and interdependent and a policy case studies on the use of Mobilink. shift in one of the streams alternative energy tools, would affect others. There is including solar powered iz ah AbdulAz af redit: Must Photo c

Women from the village work together to pull water up from the dug well Bewatoo Tharparkar Sindh

23 iz ah AbdulAz af redit: Must

Village children collecting dirty water from an unprotected water source, in this fishing community Photo c there is no school or water and sanitation facilities available Thatta, Sindh. SANITATION

48 million Pakistanis have no loo Amar Guriro November 18, 2013 KARACHI: On under the Millennium rich. Development Goal (MDG), “Pakistan has the worst Pakistan is committed to November 19 sanitary conditions in South supply 93 percent and 64 Asia and its total economic (tomorrow) as percent of its population with impact amounts to a loss of Rs safe water and adequate nations around the 343.7 billion, which is sanitation, respectively. As yet, equivalent to around 3.9 globe observe only 45 percent people have percent of Pakistan's gross access to improved sanitation United Nations domestic product (GDP),” facilities in Pakistan and at the reveals Media Scrap Book, a World Toilet Day to current rate, the water target collection of around 100 will be missed at least by highlight the selected stories published in seven years [by 2022] and the print and electronic media, importance of sanitation target by 13 years which is compiled by the [by 2028],” it has been toilets and WashMedia-South Asia – a claimed in the report. sanitation; around representative body of If the Pakistani government journalists from Pakistan, 48 million does not take urgent action, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the country will fail to meet the Sri Lanka working on water, Pakistanis will be MDG pledge it made to halve sanitation and hygiene. the proportion of people defecating under The scrap book further without sanitation by 2015, revealed that 52,000 children the open skies. and this will have massive die annually due to diarrhoea consequences for child Pakistan, despite being a in Pakistan and 14 million mortality. nuclear power, is still unable people still do not have access to provide basic sanitation to Not this alone, but another to safe drinking water and over majority of the people. study – the Joint Monitoring 90 million are without A recent report issued by Programme of WHO and improved sanitation. “48 Pakistan Chapter of UK-based UNICEF states that 71 percent million people – nearly one charity – WaterAid-Pakistan of Pakistan's rural population fourth of the total population – revealed that 97,900 people does not have the facilities of in Pakistan practice open die annually in Pakistan due to improved sanitation, and 40 defecation,” the book unsafe water and improper percent of the rural population mentions. resort to open defecation. sanitation. Karachi, the largest city of the Another joint report by World According to WaterAid, the country and the commercial Health Organisation (WHO) poorest people in Pakistan, hub, suffers a lot due to the and UNICEF stated that 54,000 like other South Asian nations lack of proper inadequate children under the age of five are being left behind and are sanitation. The official data die from diarrhoea every year 13 times less likely to have reveals that the 42 percent of in Pakistan. “By the year 2015, access to sanitation than the the city's total population live

27 in 539 slums, which have no consequences of poor world. Some 9.7 million access to a proper toilet and sanitation is that, it is the children die before reaching appropriate sanitation system. biggest killer of children under the age of five, 2.4 million of the age of five around the them due to poor sanitation. One of the most alarming Health and sanitation: Sindh leads with highest diarrhoea cases, child mortality Amar Guriro January 13, 2013 KARACHI: Despite being in consecutive tenure. of both the cities were being power for last six years, the Though Karachi, the provincial supplied unfiltered, raw water, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) capital is the country's largest causing several problems and in Sindh couldn't improve the city of Pakistan in terms of extra load on Sindh Health health infrastructure in terms population, fewer cases were Department's annual budget. of clean water supply to the detected from here. This was "Last year, after the increased province. On the one hand probably because of better number of diarrhoea cases, a contaminated water was water filtration and sanitation team of our department visited supplied by state-run agencies system. the filter plant in Hyderabad; I in cities and towns of the "Most of the cases of was part of the team, that province, a lack of proper diarrhoea and other discovered Hyderabad filter sanitation also caused the waterborne diseases are being plant has been out of order for province to suffer with reported during summer and many years and the citizens waterborne diseases, there are less cases in Karachi, are being supplied unfiltered especially diarrhoea. as the city has much better raw water, without even According to the official record sewerage system," said Dr chlorination. Spread of of Sindh Health Department, in Masood Solangi, Additional diarrhoea in such conditions is 2013, 146,320 cases of Secretary Sindh Health not unlikely," he said. diarrhoea were reported in the Department. "The Karachi Speaking about water public sector hospitals of Water and Sewerage Board sampling, he said the team Sindh, whereas the number of (KWSB) ensures chlorination, collected water samples from people killed was 13 in the and to some extent, proper Hyderabad and the laboratory province. water filtration; however in results clearly stated that it Majority of these cases were other districts, the drinking was not fit for human reported in Hyderabad, water quality is not better consumption. Mirpurkhas and Khairpur causing a higher number of "Everywhere in the world, districts. It is worth waterborne diseases." there is a rule that on one side mentioning that Khairpur is the Moving on, Hyderabad, the of the road there would be hometown of Sindh Chief second biggest city of Sindh, water supply lines, whereas on Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who is and Mirpurkhas, also a major the other side, the sewerage enjoying his second city of the province, residents lines. In Sindh, we observed

28 that in almost every city both University Hospital. conducted a study of all lines go together due to which Ghulam Mustafa Zaor, General district headquarters of Sindh, sewerage water mixes up with Manager Infrastructure a study which was partly drinking water, causing Development & WASH at the designed to look into the waterborne diseases. Health And Nutrition prevailing urban situation in Moreover, because of the lack Development Society (HANDS) Sindh Districts Headquarters of filter plants, the situation is said extensive sanitation in the light of water and worsening with the passage of services were largely non- sanitation rights advocated by time," added Dr Solangi. existent in Pakistan. the UN, Pakistan's On a query, Dr Solangi said the Extensive sanitation services Constitution and the Health Department only treats reduce chances of Millennium Development the patients but it cannot fix contamination. However, the Goals. water filtration. "It is primarily situation in Pakistan is a "Although we are compiling the duty of the district and source of serious the data at this stage but the local governments to manage environmental damage as initial analysis shows that water filtration and construct a rivers become highly large quantities of wastewater proper sanitation system in contaminated effecting a large were generated by domestic the cities, towns and union population of the country. users in big cities and towns. councils, otherwise there are "We all pay regularly and Other very significant no chances for betterment," dearly due to this situation; contributors were commercial he said. not only human beings but the and industrial units. Many international studies fisheries and marine wildlife is Wastewater includes suggest that besides also struggling to survive as household wastewater, contaminated drinking water, ground-water becomes wastewater from offices, inadequate sanitation is the polluted," he said, adding that hotels, hospitals, institutions, major cause of diarrhoea in the lack of political will was commercial establishments the world. According to United the foremost reason behind and, industrial units," he said, Nations about 2.5 billion the scenario. adding that during rainy people do not have an access "In Sindh, people have seasons, large quantities of to adequate sanitation and extremely low access to basic rainwater become available; about 1 billion people practice WASH services, whereas the these although categorised as open defecation, which natural habitat of the region is storm water; also fall within contributes to many diseases. under grave threat. The the ambit of wastewater. Each year, more than 800,000 majority of the population in Therefore, in many towns and children under the age of five rural areas practice open cities of Sindh same drains or die from diarrhoea, many due defecation as the principal sewers were used both for to poor sanitation. means of sanitation. Women domestic, commercial and In Pakistan, diarrhoea is the and girls continue to suffer the industrial effluent and, rain or leading cause of infant and most from this practice as storm water as well. child deaths. Unfortunately, their dignity and privacy are "SWM systems are generally Sindh leads with both the compromised. We can easily non-existent or rudimentary in highest number of cases of gauge the interest level of the urban centres. About 37 diarrhoea as well as the public sector toward the issue percent of the population is highest number of deaths of of sanitation that there is no served by garbage collection under five (101 per 1,000), sewage treatment in Sindh's systems. No sanitary landfills according to the study secondary towns," he said. exist. Solid waste collected is conducted by Aga Khan Zaor said HANDS had disposed by burning or illegal

29 dumping into open spaces or consequences of poor world. Some 9.7 million the drainage channels," he sanitation is that, it is the children die before reaching concluded. biggest killer of children under the age of five, 2.4 million of One of the most alarming the age of five around the them due to poor sanitation. Where does all the water go? Kalbe Ali | M. Zaidi | Tanveer Shahzad JULY 13, 2014

1. Natural streams flowing down the Margalla Hills into Islamabad territory look fresh and clean before they enter human settlements, like this one in Noorpur Shahan, which sits in the foothills. In some serene streams one can even see small fish swimming.

2. When the once fresh waterway emerges from 3. This photograph shows the dry bed of one of the Bari Imam, it has taken the look of an open storm water drains behind the Prime Minister's drain, carrying dark coloured sludge. House, situated on a mound on the edge of Noorpur Shahan. Domestic waste of the houses of ordinary people dumped in the dry ground turns it toxic and, when the rains come, it flows downstream.

4. In contrast, the water of this stream flowing through Sector G-6, is found clear even after it had travelled upto Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy. The reason is that a sewage trunk line carries all the domestic outflow of the densely populated area. Stream water is clean enough for the poor car washer seen in the photograph to earn his living.

30 5. Although the water of the stream passing through F-7 Markaz also is similarly clear but solid waste on its banks make it look dirty.

7. This natural stream was small but clean where it entered Sector F-6. But it grew in size, and its water turned murky and smelly, after skirting a katchi abadi in the sector.

6. Some irregular settlements along the natural streams, like this one in Sector F-7, have made it impossible for the CDA to repair or replace broken sewage trunk lines. All sewage trunk lines were laid along the natural streams when the new capital was built in the 1960s.

8. After decades of disregard for conserving nature, many of the once joyful streams have turned into rivers of garbage and stinking sludge as this ugly site at the Zero Point shows.

31 World toilet day: Nowhere to go Maha Mussadaq / Ali Usman / Ali Ousat / Umer Farooq / Kiran Shahid November 19, 2013

ISLAMABAD / LAHORE / KARACHI / PESHAWAR: Capital dump The light bulb flickered weakly at a public toilet in a local market. The toilet was cleaned that morning but the nauseating blend of chlorine bleach and clogged pipelines warned you that this toilet is unsafe to use. In the capital, the condition of public toilet facilities remains bleak. “Most of the toilets don't have water. No one files a complaint about their condition,” said Ali Mustafa, a While rural communities across the country continue to suffer, tailor whose shop neighbours the lack of public toilet facilities and ensuing sanitation the toilet. “Drainage in problems plague urban centres as well. DESIGN: KIRAN SHAHID Islamabad is an issue but I think the administration will service for 61 is carried out works 24 hours a day. On an wait for a disaster to happen through private contractors. average, 80 complaints before they really take some Some 32 are being renovated regarding drainage and action.” and a proposal to construct 30 sanitation are being new restrooms is under addressed every day. But what In a city where an estimated consideration. remains a challenge for the one million residents live, Capital Administration is mushrooming new sectors are where to dump the waste. facilitating influx of population Speaking to The Express What about the women? for which facilities available Tribune on condition of even now might not be anonymity, a CDA official said When it comes to public sufficient. In this sprawling that a complaint cell dealing restrooms, Lahore, the city city, the total number of public with public toilets has been with the history, does not toilets is 93. Of these, sanitary established in each sector. It cater too well to the bustling crowds. The most visited sites, including Lari Adda, Railway The lack of public toilet facilities Station, Data Saaheb's shrine, and the Walled City, direly lack and ensuing sanitation problems toilet facilities. plague urban centres as well. Iftikhar Mubarik, a human rights activist working on

32 issues of cleanliness, said other parts of the city. public toilets at only 13 these poor conditions must be places; of these, only two – Fighting for a basic right urgently discussed from a Karachi Zoo and Bin Qasim gender perspective. “Dirt on the floor, no water in Park at Clifton – has toilets the taps and non-functioning specifically for women.” “You can observe men flushes make the few available attending to calls of nature in “I usually rush to nearby public toilets a last option,” public, but the women just private properties to use the said Agha Syed Atta-u-Allah can't do that,” he pointed out. toilet. Sometimes I face sexual Shah, an activist from the NGO “Some contractors run private harassment when I need to Raah-e-Raast. toilets, charging Rs10 to Rs20, use a public toilet” said a but they are in bad condition. female activist. Most women don't use them. Under the sky Four months ago, the city The government must take administration had come up action to address this.” with the idea to establish 200 Data obtained by Central 43 toilets at different locations. District Government Lahore million people The idea has been shelved (CDGL) revealed that there are since then, officials said. less than 40 functional public defecate in the Commissioner of Karachi said toilets in a city that boasts a open in Pakistan, that public toilets would be population of around 10 according to constructed soon. “We realise million. unicef the need for public toilets in a According to Dr Mamoodul city like Karachi. The project to Hasan, a health consultant, establish public toilets would the deleterious health effects Availability of toilets must be not be given up,” the should be underscored. ensured at every public place commissioner promised on the as it is a biological need for all World Toilet Day. “If you pass by these busy human beings and should be spots, you are hit by foul declared a 'fundamental Students at a standstill smell,” he said. “The current human right', said Shah in his Toilets in government-run condition is terrible, health- petition filed with the Sindh schools across Peshawar are wise. Had the sanitation High Court. In his petition in too bad a shape. system been maintained Shah has stated that due to For instance, Government properly, several stomach and unavailability of toilets in Higher Secondary School No 3 skin diseases could have been public places, people are students complain that most prevented.” forced to relieve themselves in of the restrooms are Another CDGL official claimed isolated parks, footpaths and perpetually blocked. The few that the Parks and Horticulture under the trees. that work are in bad shape too. Authority (PHA) is responsible “We have pinpointed 2,200 They also have to use the for providing public toilets but places for the public toilets private facilities in Khyber the facility remains across the city of Karachi. Such Bazaar. undelivered. However, PHA places include 182 “Toilets in the schools are too spokesman Javaid Shaida graveyards, 33 markets, 42 few and very filthy,” said an refuted this, saying the thoroughfares and 77 parks,” eighth-grader. “The least our authority maintains public he added. “Karachi government could do is to toilets at its parks, but is not Metropolitan Corporation and provide sufficient funds to responsible for facilities in Cantonment boards have keep the existing ones

33 usable.” different parts of the provincial owner of a private toilet who capital charge money for use. charges Rs10 for a single use. Residents in the city believe They are in comparatively good “A small chunk of that is that toilet facilities maintained condition but only few can use redirected to keep the toilet by private organisations, them. facilities clean.” institutions and schools are far superior to the public ones. “Yes, we expect payment for Most public toilets scattered in using of toilets,” said the World toilet day: Nowhere to go MUHAMMAD RAMZAN CHANDIO March 21, 2013

KARACHI: “Just $0.53 has been people in Pakistan (8% of the reducing them. received in water and population) not having access Overall, Pakistan has received sanitation aid for each person to clean drinking water and on average $94.15 million per in Pakistan on average for the 92.8 million (53% of the year in water and sanitation years 2010-2012”, unveiled a population) going without aid, for the years 2010-2012. startling new report, Bridging basic access to sanitation. While Mauritius, which has a the Divide, released by the The report argues that smaller population of just 1.3 international development international water and million, received a comparable charity WaterAid on the eve of sanitation aid is failing to $73.8 million on average over World Water Day (22 March reach those in greatest need, this period, even though its 2014) today on Friday. exacerbating global rates of access to basic This is despite, 15.1 million inequalities rather than sanitation is over 90% and

34 access to clean drinking water Over 400 people take part in just 6% of overall donor aid. is above 99%. World Walks for Water and In addition, much of the Mr. Siddiq Ahmed Khan, Sanitation events in Lahore promised aid fails to be Country Representative, Pakistan on World Water day delivered. Over the past WaterAid in Pakistan said: in solidarity with the people decade donors have failed – “The stated aim of who are still forced to walk for for reasons unclear – to pass international aid is to help the water. During the side events on a third of the money they world's poor break out of with Legislators where 20 pledged to spend on water poverty and to live healthy and Parliamentarian of Punjab and sanitation aid, or US$27.6 productive lives – and to Assembly participated, they billion out of the US$81.2 positively address our also vow to work to end water billion since 2002 that has fundamentally unequal world. poverty and also supported in been committed. demanding universal and With over 40,000 children The WaterAid report comes sustainable access to water under the age of five dying ahead of crucial discussions and sanitation. every year in Pakistan because at the World Bank in of a lack of access to clean Despite globally 1 in 10 Washington in April (10-11) drinking water, basic people lacking access to clean where the Sanitation and sanitation and hygiene why is drinking water, and more than Water for All partnership will not more water and sanitation 1 in 3 without access to basic hold its third High-Level aid being targeted at those sanitation, most donors still Meeting. Ministers from who are desperately waiting allocate relatively low priority Pakistan alongside other for these essential services in to aid spending to tackle this developing and donor country our country?” crisis, accounting in 2012 for Ministers will meet to discuss the water and sanitation crisis. Message of Ban-Ki-moon on World Water Day: This year's WaterAid in Pakistan is calling observance of World Water Day focuses on the links between water for a dedicated goal on and energy as both are critical for eradicating poverty. And they universal access to water and interact with each other in ways that can help – or hinder – our efforts to build stable societies and lives of dignity for all. sanitation, as part of the new United Nations Secretary General, Ban-Ki-moon in his message on global post-2015 Sustainable World Water Day 2014, said that Climate change driven in great part Development Goals so that by the unsustainable use of energy will exacerbate water stress and everyone, everywhere has scarcity in many regions. Efforts to provide universal access to access to these life giving water and energy will be undermined if the current warming trend necessities no later than continues. 2030. The many strong links between water and energy demand coherent, integrated policies and innovative strategies. Water must be used -- Meanwhile, “Bridging the and electricity must be generated and distributed -- equitably and Divide-using aid flows to efficiently, so all users get a fair share. tackle extremes in global water These are the goals of the ongoing work of UN-Water and of the and sanitation scarcity”, the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. These issues are also crucially analysis highlights six important elements in our discussions on the post-2015 development agenda. countries that fall into all six On World Water Day, let us pledge to develop the policies needed to categories, which includes DR ensure that sustainable water and energy are secured for the many Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and not just the few. Mozambique, Niger and Tanzania. Seven countries are

35 in five of the categories: Cote This in turn leads to wide sanitation and hygiene by d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, differences in the prevalence 2030, with a dedicated goal Sudan, Uganda and India, of water-related disease: in the post-2015 and a further ten are in four of diarrhoea is the second development framework: the six categories of need: largest cause of child Water, sanitation and hygiene Afghanistan, Bangladesh, mortality in developing are essential for health, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, countries, responsible for welfare and livelihoods. Yet Chad, China, Indonesia, over 800,000 deaths a year, too many people do not have Pakistan, Somalia and yet it represents minimal risk these basic human rights. Yemen. and threat to children in high- After 2015, we must do The report adds: “Safe income countries. better, and the international drinking water and sanitation Inequality is also a strong community should commit to are human rights and critical feature within countries; in a dedicated goal on universal determinants of development Southern Asia for example, access to water and prospects, yet they remain only 7% of the lowest income sanitation in the post-2015 distant, unattainable luxuries section of the population has development framework. for hundreds of millions of adequate sanitation, Target water and sanitation the world's poorest citizens. compared with 98% access aid to regions, countries, Although World Water Day among the wealthiest group, districts and communities on 2014 sees over six billion with the poorest quintile the basis of poverty and people enjoying daily access barely benefiting from need: to improved drinking water progress. Inequality of access is one of and the 2015 Millennium India, the legacy of the enduring characteristics Development Goal (MDG) discrimination and funding of the sector. Sending high target for water achieved shortages has left scheduled proportions of water and ahead of schedule, the castes and tribes sanitation aid to middle overall picture is one of a disproportionately affected. income countries where major divide: abundance, In Nepal, certain remote access levels are already high even excess for some, yet villages in the Himalayan is a sub-optimal use of scarcity or complete absence region receive no funding for existing resources. Donors of safe water for others”. water and sanitation from the can improve the impact of Global report stated that the government, donors or non- their aid by ensuring that the inequality of access is one of governmental organisations. countries and people most in the enduring characteristics There is a major gender divide need are prioritised. of the sector. A typical person too. Women and girls bear the Address the extreme among the 768 million main responsibility for inequalities in the sector, by trapped in water poverty in collecting water in Sub- making equity considerations developing countries is forced Saharan Africa, shouldering central to resource to rely on five litres of unsafe over 70% of the burden. allocations: water a day, yet her The global report also carries The burden of dirty water and counterpart in a high-income recommendations, which inadequate sanitation falls European country is likely to include: disproportionately on women consume up to 30 times that Commit to achieving universal and children, those on low amount of clean, safe water. access to drinking water, income, and marginalised

36 and vulnerable groups, such can serve as an important water, sanitation and hygiene as the very young or old, or benchmark for sustainability will require substantial those living with disabilities. in the sector. mobilisation of funds from a National governments should Double global aid flows to broad base and within a well- tackle this by placing equity water, sanitation and hygiene regulated, fair, open and considerations at the heart of to release an additional accountable policy resource allocations and US$10 billion per year, framework. service delivery. combined with technical It will also require new Tackle the non-functionality support to address financial sources of financing, issues faced by the sector by absorption constraints: including financial transaction investing in and building Aid flows at $10 billion a year and carbon taxes to systems that can deliver long for water and sanitation play a complement aid flows. An term sustainability: vital role in the overall important lesson from the Non-functionality of water financing framework, but are MDG framework is that many points and infrastructure nevertheless insufficient. The financing promises made by falling into disrepair are major 2015 sanitation MDG target governments have not been barriers to ensuring the will almost certainly be kept, leading to uneven sustainability of services. This missed by a large margin. progress across the MDGs, contributes to inequalities in Donors should respond to across regions and countries. access, and needs to be insufficient progress on Successful mobilisation of addressed as part of a sanitation by doubling aid resources for sustainable comprehensive approach to from current levels. development and the SDGs will require the international service delivery by Mobilise substantial community to commit to governments and utilities. The additional development obligatory financing US Government has estimated finance from a broad base of mechanisms, and to end that US$150 per person is resources within a fair, open harmful practices such as needed to ensure sustainable and accountable policy allowing tax havens to access to safe drinking water, framework: sanitation and hygiene. This continue to flourish. Achieving universal access to Experts link poor sanitation to poverty MUHAMMAD RAMZAN CHANDIO July 2, 2013

KARACHI - Experts at a poor sanitation, hygiene and to form synergies for workshop, co-hosted by the lack of safe drinking water achieving the sanitation United Nations Children's trigger a downward slide into related Millennium Fund (Unicef) and the Water poverty in the country. Development Goals in and Sanitation Programme A two-day national workshop Pakistan. (WSP) of the World Bank, said was inaugurated on Monday As millions remain without

37 adequate sanitation facilities sanitation. While efforts made In collaboration with UNICEF, in the country, the workshop by UNICEF, WSP and other WSP has supported the brings together all partners in the sanitation provincial governments in stakeholders to assess the sector are highly appreciable, designing large scale current situation about access I urge all partners to join sanitation programmes in to sanitation and to deliberate hands and strive harder Pakistan. It has also upon the course of action up towards achieving the contributed significantly to to 2015 and beyond. sanitation related MDGs in institutional capacity The workshop provides a Pakistan." development of water and platform to the government, During the course of the sanitation service providers in semi-government and non- workshop, UNICEF will share urban areas of the country. government partners to share the findings and evaluations Inadequate sanitation causes experiences in developing of a large scale sanitation Pakistan economic losses and implementing various programme concluded by the totaling US$ 5.7 billion which model programmes under the organisation under PATS and is equivalent to PKR 343.7 Pakistan Approach to Total also launch the findings of a billion each year," said Sanitation (PATS). The base line study from its Masroor Ahmed, Senior Water Workshop will also deliberate ongoing programme, and Sanitation Specialist WSP. upon the agendas for the 'Sanitation Programme at "This is equivalent to 3.9 per forthcoming major events on Scale in Pakistan' (SPSP). cent of the country's GDP as sanitation including the South UNICEF calls upon the highlighted in a WSP report, Asian Conference on Government of Pakistan, The Economic Impacts of Sanitation (SACOSAN-V) and bilateral and multilateral Inadequate Sanitation in Pakistan Conference on donors to make further Pakistan by the Water and Sanitation (PACOSAN II). commitments to the water and Sanitation Program. All stake "Poor sanitation, hygiene and sanitation sector," said Dan holders need to work together lack of safe drinking water Rohrmann, UNICEF to scale up the pilot trigger a downward slide into Representative in Pakistan. programmes and translate the poverty," said Maryam "In addition to necessary sanitation policy principles Aurangzeb, Member of the investments, coordination into action for achieving the National Assembly and an and harmonization is crucial sanitation related MDG." environmentalist, who was both for sustainable On the second and the last the chief guest on the development and day, participants of the occasion. "Women and humanitarian response. Workshop will put together adolescent girls are Improved sanitation for all in recommendations for the disproportionately affected by Pakistan is achievable. future course of action. lack of access to adequate Let us make it a reality."

Sources: WHO/UNICE joint monitoring programme (JMP) Report 2014 update; prof Black R E MD et al (2014) Global, regional, and national cases of child mortality in 2000-13 with projection to inform post-2015 priorities: an update systematic analysis, The Lancet, early online publication, 1 October 2014, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61698, 2013 data. Children = under fives

38 Pakistan among ten states in need of proper water, sanitation facilities MUHAMMAD RAMZAN CHANDIO July 2, 2013

Islamabad water and sanitation. and Somalia receive less than According to analysis of Six countries that fall into all US$1 each year for each countries in need of water and six categories of need are DR person without water or sanitation most in the world, Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, sanitation. The paper says Pakistan is among ten Mozambique, Niger and that this imbalance countries that fall for four of Tanzania. Seven countries are exacerbates existing the six categories of need that in five of the six categories of inequalities rather than were used as an indicator by need including Cote d'Ivoire, reducing them. the water and sanitation Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, It also mentions that over the experts. Uganda and India whereas ten past decade, donors have The analysis was shared in a countries including promised substantial briefing paper 'Bridging the Afghanistan, Bangladesh, amounts of aid that have not Divide' published by WaterAid Burkina Faso, Cameroon, materialised. The briefing on the occasion of World Chad, China, Pakistan, paper analyses the countries Water Day falling on March 22. Indonesia, Somalia and in which water and sanitation The briefing paper identifies Yemen are among the poverty is at its highest, and major inequalities that persist countries that qualify for four shows that, as international in the water and sanitation among total six categories of governments turn their sector in the world today. It need. attention to ending extreme says that currently, there are The briefing paper shows that poverty by 2030, there is a 768 million people trapped in the greatest volume of aid by need to address significant water poverty in developing donors rarely goes to the fault lines in the way global countries. places where there is the aid to water and sanitation is The analysis of countries in greatest need. It mentions targeted and delivered. need of water and sanitation that Jordan, Mauritius and The data indicate that aid most is based on six different Montenegro all have access could be substantially more categories including countries levels above 90 per cent for effective in tackling water and with the largest number of both water and sanitation, yet sanitation poverty if it is child diarrhoeal deaths, they receive US$855, US$588 directed more on the basis of countries with the highest and US$256 respectively each need. It points out that issues percentage and highest year for each person without that impact on decision- numbers without water and these essential services. making for the targeting of aid sanitation, and countries with Conversely, many least mainly include geographical the largest number of people developed countries receive or strategic interests, defined by the minimal amounts of support, historical links with former Multidimensional Poverty despite their fragility and high colonies, and domestic policy Index as poor and deprived in levels of need. Madagascar reasons.

39 The briefing regrets that safe European country is likely to defecation. In the Indian State drinking water and sanitation consume up to 30 times that of Bihar, the police said that in are human rights and critical amount of clean, safe water. 2012 over 400 women would determinants of development This in turn leads to wide have 'escaped' rape had they prospects, yet they remain differences in the prevalence had toilets in their homes. distant, unattainable luxuries of water-related disease like The report says that the for hundreds of millions of the diarrhoea. It is the second burden of dirty water and world's poorest citizens. largest cause of child mortality inadequate sanitation falls “Although World Water Day in developing countries, disproportionately on women 2014 sees over six billion responsible for over 800,000 and children, those on low people enjoying daily access deaths a year, yet it represents income, and marginalized and to improved drinking water minimal risk and threat to vulnerable groups, such as the and the 2015 Millennium children in high-income very young or old, or those Development Goal (MDG) countries. living with disabilities. target for water achieved There is a major gender divide National governments should ahead of schedule, the overall too. Women and girls bear the tackle this by placing equity picture is one of a major main responsibility for considerations at the heart of divide: abundance, even collecting water in Sub- resource allocations and excess for some, yet scarcity Saharan Africa, shouldering service delivery. Aid flows at or complete absence of safe over 70 per cent of the $10 billion a year for water water for others,” it states. burden. Inadequate sanitation and sanitation play a vital role Inequality of access is one of in schools disproportionately in the overall financing the enduring characteristics of affects girls' attendance and framework, but are the sector. A typical person performance due to menstrual nevertheless insufficient. The among the 768 million hygiene management needs. report recommends that trapped in water poverty in Women are often vulnerable to donors should respond to developing countries is forced harassment or violence when insufficient progress on to rely on five litres of unsafe they have to travel long sanitation by doubling aid water a day, yet her distances to fetch water, use from current levels. counterpart in a high-income shared toilets or practise open

Sources: WHO/UNICE joint monitoring programme (JMP) Report 2014 update; prof Black R E MD et al (2014) Global, regional, and national cases of child mortality in 2000-13 with projection to inform post-2015 priorities: an update systematic analysis, The Lancet, early online publication, 1 October 2014, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61698, 2013 data. Children = under fives

40 CDA pledges to implement solid waste management plan by June 30 MYRA IMRAN July 2, 2013 Islamabad: The Capital Hussain stated. The hotline initiatives. Development Authority (CDA) has been established as per Furthermore, a complete has committed instructions of Senator elimination of plastic bags implementation of solid Mushahid Hussain Sayed. would be an integral part of waste management plan for Addressing the acute parking the Green and Clean the city by June 30, 2014. The crisis in the city, Senator campaign on which the capital city produces 550 to Mushahid Hussain called for government, private sector 600 tons of waste every day specific parking garages to be and public will join hands. with no permanent disposal allotted in every commercial With reference to the first system in place. area, given major expansions public hearing, the CDA The commitment was made in in the form of new plazas and informed that all stone a second public hearing malls. “Not only this, but crushers will be demolished conducted by sub-committee there should also parking with the assistance of of Senate Standing Committee areas, pathways and Rawalpindi administration on Human Rights. The hearing washrooms for physically and ICT. The Senator was convened by Senator challenged segments of the appreciated this and Mushahid Hussain Sayed at society,” the Senator added subsequently commissioned the Parliament House and on a side note. Sustainable Development attended by Senator The convener along with Policy Institute with task of Farhatullah Babar, Senator Dr. other members of the hearing preparing compliance report Saeeda Iqbal, Senator lauded CDA's “Green and on the 16 stone crushers. Hidayatullah and MNA Clean Islamabad” initiative as The public hearing drew great Maryam Aurangzeb. being timely and the need of enthusiastic participation Bringing to light practical the hour. “Pakistan is among from the civil society and measures for environmental the top 10 countries of the common citizens of protection in the capital, it world listed to be Islamabad, particularly the was announced that an environmentally vulnerable leader of the Green Movement environmental hotline is and has experienced intense Islamabad, Chris-tina Afridi available to report weather aberrations with and Dr. Dushka. Many environmental violations to floods costing us US$ 15 complaints and violations CDA on the number 1334. billion in losses,” the Senator were reported by these “Any citizen of Islamabad can pointed out. participants which were taken report environmental The members also noted that up on discussion with the CDA violations witnessed by them the critical nature of the issue and the ministry. The next by dialing the hotline at any which translates in to food public hearing has been time of the day and the CDA and water security in the long scheduled for February 25 will take action within 24 run and committed full which will follow up on the hours,” Senator Mushahid support on environmental issues cited.

41 Capital's water sources getting highly polluted

MYRA IMRAN July 2, 2013

Islamabad According to latest statistics Korang River around that area The water sources of shared by the director and dumping of waste had Islamabad get high pollution general, there are 9 steel polluted the water source to a load due to discharge of furnaces, 16 steel-re-rolling, 5 major extent. domestic and industrial waste oil and ghee mills, 31 marble Islamabad was designed to and leakages of municipal cutting and polishing units, 9 provide a healthy climate, sewers. plastic units, 10 pollution free atmosphere, According to data shared by pharmaceuticals and 23 metal plenty of water and lush green Environmental Protection cutting units operating in and area. It includes eight basic Agency (EPA) Director General around Islamabad. zones; administrative, Asif Shuja Khan, in a recent Due to discharge of domestic diplomatic enclave, meeting of Senate Standing waste and leakages of residential areas, educational Committee on Human Rights, municipal sewers, these sectors, industrial sectors, the capital has about 26 small streams get high pollution commercial areas, rural and and large freshwater streams, load and in low rain season green areas and five parks which take hill torrent- these streams stink and including Fatima Jinnah Park, rainwater and pass through become breading places for Rose and Jasmine Garden, different residential sectors mosquitoes. Japanese Park, Chattar Park and finally converge into two Similarly, the situation of and Shakarparian. Each sector main streams when they leave major water source for people was kept separated through Islamabad. living in and around the green belts, which also act as In these streams, the capital city, the Rawal Lake is oxygen generator and no dissolved oxygen after mixing also very bad. A report polluting industry was to be of waste was found as low as prepared by Capital allowed in the area. 0.9 mg/l and biological Development Authority (CDA) The EPA DG shared that oxygen demand (BOD) and for feasibility of treatment population has risen from chemical oxygen demand plant at Barri Imam and Bhara 0.340 million to 1.124 million (COD) were found as high as Kahu shows that Rawal Lake within 25 years showing an 63.5 mg/l and 162.5 mg/l receives waste from overall increase of 230 per respectively. catchments area spread cent with an average annual The levels of heavy metals across 70,000 acres and growth of 6 per cent. The high like lead and cadmium were included both Islamabad rise buildings, residential also found exceeding the Capital Territory (ICT) and non- apartments, housing National Environmental Islamabad Capital Territory. 65 schemes, educational Quality Standards (NEQS) as per cent of waste comes from institutions in residential the streams pass down Barri Imam and Bhara Kahu. areas, 'kachi abadis', through the industrial area of The environmentalists believe unrecognised housing sectors I-9 and I-10. that illegal constructions on colonies (Bani Gala, Bhara

42 Kahu) created serious toilets of Barri Imam Shrine new roads, around 40 large environmental issues and the and ICT has secured funds for and small housing schemes, green cover decreased due to construction of 2 more number of high rise cutting of trees and there is no soakage pits in different commercial and residential proper waste disposal facility. areas. ICT and CDA have also towers and other development Main sources of pollution in submitted a PC-1 to Planning schemes. Islamabad include Steel Division for installation of four Ministry of Petroleum and furnaces (9), re-rolling mills sewage plants in Rawal Lake Natural Resources awarded (16), Cement Plant (1), Stone catchments area. petroleum concession in the Crushers (16), Fugitive Smoke Despite these steps, he Margalla Hills to a private oil like burning of waste, wild agreed that administration of exploration company. Coal grasses, forest fires, animal Islamabad is not fully operated power plants are sheds, vehicles etc. equipped to deal with expected to be installed in Shuja shared that Islamabad expanding population and Islamabad. “With completion has 300,000 vehicles with mix increasing pollution. He of these projects, not only the of petrol, CNG and diesel shared that future natural beauty of Islamabad vehicles whereas about development of Islamabad will be impacted but the 90,000 heavy and light includes construction of seven pollution load will further vehicles are diverted from GT (7) hotels including one 7- enhance.” Road, trespass through star, an international airport, Kashmir Highway, half of them are diesel driven trucks. This traffic adds 377 tons of particulate matters in the air each year. He said that, to cope with the situation, installation of sewage treatment plants in large buildings, housing schemes and projects by using EIA tool for new projects and issuance of Environmental Protection Order for existing projects has been made mandatory. CDA has two old and a new sewage treatment plant (17 MGD) but running under-capacity due to inadequate in flow. Siltation tanks were constructed by Marble industry. About 450 sewage lines discharging waste water in Korang and fresh water streams were plugged by Pak-

EPA and CDA. Two septic tanks Sources: WHO/UNICE joint monitoring programme (JMP) Report 2014 update; prof Black R E MD et al (2014) Global, regional, and national cases of child mortality in 2000-13 with projection to inform and soakage pits were post-2015 priorities: an update systematic analysis, The Lancet, early online publication, 1 October 2014, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61698, 2013 data. Children = under fives constructed by ICT for 103

43

Case Studies

Hoping to land a govt job, Meeko supplies water to farmers voluntarily for 30 years Hafeez Tunio July 17, 2013

QAMBER-SHAHDADKOT / KARACHI: There are few men as dedicated as Arbab Bhangar, popularly known as Meeko, who has been supplying irrigation water to farmers voluntarily for the past 30 years – all with the hope of securing a government job one day.

Wearing a knee-length dhoti, Meeko has been supplying water to farmers voluntarily for Meeko rides his bicycle from 30 years. Photo: EXPRESS one canal to another to make sure the farmers have enough water for their crops. Meeko, as farmers used to plead to financially at the time of the 50, who belongs to Bhangar him to release water for their harvest but it is not Aacha village of Kamber crops,” he said. “I wanted to sufficient.” become a beldar so I started Shahdadkot district, always During the Khareef season, working at a very tender age.” wanted to be a beldar, a especially between June and helper at the irrigation Initially, Meeko met the Chief August, Meeko spends 24 department who checks the Engineer of Larkana and hours on the embankments of flow of“ irrigation water in requested him for a job. “He the canals to prevent any

I am the only beldar in the area who they see working in the field. Sometimes, it feels I ha“ ve spent my whole life being useless Volunteer Meeko watercourses and canals and suggested that I start working breach. “All irrigation officials strengthens their as a volunteer till the posted at district embankments. government announces a headquarters know this very vacant post,” he recalled. well and they even call me in “When I was child, I saw that “The farmers try to help me case of an emergency,” he the beldar was very influential

47 said, regretfully adding that I would had lost my crop agrees Meeko is a valuable they turn him down whenever spread over 30 acres.” asset. “When I took charge he asks for a job. “I am the about two years ago, I found Job prospects only beldar in the area who him to be a very hard worker,” they see working in the field. Though Meeko has almost he recalled. “Later, I appointed Sometimes, I feel I have spent reached the official retirement him on a contract and paid him my whole life being useless.” age, he still dreams of a for six months but our senior government job. “I have officer objected.” The farmers receiving Meeko's earned honour in my area and services value him. “Meeko For their part, the irrigation people respect me but I need a travels miles with water to department said there are job to run my house.” supply it from the main canals certain rules for government to the water courses, which is With all the applications he jobs that Meeko doesn't a really hectic process,” said has submitted to the higher qualify. “We can consider his Rafique Channa, one of the authorities mentioning his case for honorarium or some growers. Channa pays Meeko past contributions as a sort of compensation if around 80 kilogrammes of his volunteer safely filed, Meeko officials from the relevant harvest every year but feels has knocked the doors of chief district send us a proposal,” like the government should engineers and irrigation he added. help him more. secretaries but all in vain. After spending 30 years in the “When chief minister Qaim Ali According to Qurab Khoso, fields, Meeko's only dream Shah visited Benazir Bhutto's who grows sugarcane, Meeko now is to ensure his son mazaar in 2008, I handed him saved his crop from flooding in achieves what he failed to. my application but nothing 2010 by informing him about “Whether or not I get a happened.” the breach. “It was midnight government job, I will try my when Meeko came shouting to Tariq Ahmed, an engineer at best to get my son appointed my door,” Khoso recalled. “If the irrigation department in as an engineer in the irrigation he had not informed me, Qamber-Shahdadkot district, department.”

Sacred waters: Katasraj lake being rehabilitated Sonia Malik July 22, 2012

Work has been started to secretary to expedite the last five months. This was rehabilitate a lake considered restoration of the 10 temples blamed on two pumping sacred by the Hindu in the complex. The work is stations set up near the temple community at the Katasraj due to be finished by August. complex to supply water to Temple Complex. Earlier, the pond, which Choa Saiden Shah city and A committee was formed a measured 200 ft by 90 ft, had Wahula villages, around three month ago by the chief shrunk to 5 ft by 4 ft over the kilometers away. Some of the

48 water was also being used by Wahla said the project to were getting water from a local three cement factories in the restore the temple complex well, closer to the village. area. was started in 2009 and will Similarly, residents of Choa The Hindu temples, built between 650 and 950 AD, witness a large number of pilgrims during early spring and autumn. The pilgrims bathe in the pool as part of an ablution ritual to 'wash off sins'. According to Hindu mythology, two lakes – Katasraj and Kushkar, near Ajmer, India – were formed Water level rises after three pumping stations are demolished. when god Shiva shed tears over the passing away of be completed by 2013. Saiden Shah were drawing goddess Sita. The work includes restoration water from two pumping Saeed Iqbal Wahla, the of pavements leading to the stations situated two Environment Secretary who is temples; lining of the pool and kilometers from Katasraj. heading the committee, told a stairway. “These pumping stations were The Express Tribune the abandoned a year ago since Chakwal TMA had stopped He said facilities for pilgrims they had no generators to pumping water from near the were also upgraded. The work pump water during outages,” lake. is about 80 per cent complete. he said. The TMA has made a He said excessive water Syed Faisal Maqsood, the temporary arrangement and pumping had also affected Chakwal DO (environment), the Chakwal DCO has directed subsoil water level in the area. said the lake is being de-silted them to purchase a 50KVA He said two other pumping in two phases. In the first generator for them within four stations situated about four phase, the sides of the lake weeks. kilometers from Katasraj had were mechanically de-silted by “The de-silting has helped been reactivated to supply workers provided by a cement restore the lake. The lake area water to nearby areas. factory to a depth of five feet, he said. Last Monday, workers at the surface level has He said he had met Asmat of NESPAK, TMA and the increased to around 10-12 ft Tahira, Director General of the cement factory started de- from 4-5 ft,” he said. Punjab Archaeology silting the middle of the lake to For the last four years, the department, and the secretary a depth of around 12 feet. The Archaeology Department has of the planning and cement factory around two been working on restoration of development department, to kilometers from the area. seven temples, built during the discuss progress on the Hindu Shahi period, and three restoration of the temples. He said the three water pumping stations in the temples, built during the 19th He said with no more water proximity had been removed. and early 20th century. Three being pumped, the lake was He said the around 7,000 Sikh havelis are also being expected to grow larger during residents of Wahula village restored nearby. the monsoon rains.

49 Imrana Komal

Ajmal Shah

50 Ajmal Shah Gonilla Gill

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