Staff Reporter
Lahore
The first phase of PepsiCo’s ‘Access to Safe Water Program’ has made safe water accessible to 30,000 people in Lahore. With the help of its on-ground partner WaterAid, a total of eight water filtration facilities have been rehabilitated.
The intervention has focused on underserved urban settlements in Gulberg, Sultanke and Dhoop Sari. The filtration plants provide sustainable safe water to targeted communities including three schools. 20 water user committees have been formed to oversee the operation and maintenance of the water filtration plants.
A female resident of Gulberg commented on the rehabilitated facility in the area,” The water filtration plant in our area was not functional and for a long time I had to travel quite far to get water for myself and my children. I am happy that the plant is functional again and am satisfied with quality of water for my family.”
An integral part of the program has been community sensitization on hygiene, water safety and water conservation. 4,000 people were trained on hygiene promotion through interactive sessions such as street theatre and story-telling. The second leg of the program is underway in Islamabad and the infrastructure invention will be completed by the end of 2020. Going forward, in 2021 the program will have a more focused lens on hygiene promotion and safe storage of water. PepsiCo’s ‘Access to safe water’ program is supporting the Government’s Clean Green Pakistan movement aimed at environmental sustainability by providing access to safe water to 140,000 people in the country by end of 2021.
