National Assembly Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah took notice on Saturday supply of contaminated water in parliament house and parliament lodges. He directed administration of the NA Secretariat to take water samples from parliament house and conduct an immediate and thorough investigation by an authorised laboratory.
The news of polluted water being provided to parliamentarians is disappointing and alarming. If those who are tasked with legislating and governing our nation are deprived of clean drinking water, it amply demonstrates what ordinary citizens of the capital are getting in their water tanks? CDA spent billions on projects that are of little value to ordinary citizens yet it has failed miserably to replace decades old water pipelines in the Capital city. Clean water is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity that should be available to everyone irrespective of their social status.
While the Deputy Speaker has given directive to investigate and rectify the water quality issue within Parliament premises, CDA must act to rectify similar complaints in the Capital city. It is equally crucial for broader government action to tackle nationwide problem of contaminated water. Reports consistently indicate that a significant portion of our population lacks access to safe, clean drinking water.
This lack of access leads to severe health repercussions. Drinking contaminated water can pave the way for numerous diseases, including but not limited to diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as well as waterborne illnesses like dysentery and hepatitis. The spread of these diseases due to unsafe water is a preventable tragedy that demands urgent attention.
The existing filtration plants across the country must be maintained rigorously to ensure their efficacy in providing clean water. Moreover, efforts should be made to establish more filtration plants in underserved areas to expand access to clean drinking water. In addition to infrastructure improvements, public awareness campaigns about water hygiene and sanitation practices should be prioritised. Educating the populace about the importance of clean water and proper sanitation can significantly contribute to disease prevention and overall public health improvement.
