Alarming Crisis: 50% of Karachi Residents Lack Clean Drinking Water, Warns PCRWR Report

Introduction: A Water Crisis in Pakistan’s Largest City

Clean drinking water in Karachi is fast becoming a luxury rather than a basic right. A recent report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has highlighted a grim reality: nearly 50% of Karachi’s over 20 million residents lack access to safe drinking water.

This disturbing finding underscores an escalating water crisis that threatens not just Karachi but the future of Pakistan itself. If effective action isn’t taken, Pakistan could run out of drinkable water by 2040, an outlook that should trigger immediate concern at every level of governance.

Startling Statistics from the PCRWR Report

• 81% of residents in Karachi are forced to purchase drinking water.
• Over 90% of water sources are biologically and chemically contaminated.
• The city has a daily water demand of 1,200 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) but receives only 650 MGD, leaving a massive shortfall of 550 MGD.
• 41% of Karachi’s population lacks access to properly managed water sources.
• Contamination with E. coli affects 79.1% of source water and 85.5% at the household level.

Causes Behind the Water Contamination

The severe lack of clean drinking water in Karachi is linked to a number of interconnected factors:

• Polluted water sources: Over 90% are contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, and industrial waste.
• Salinity in groundwater: Measured between 4,000–12,000 PPM, compared to WHO’s safe limit of 1,000 PPM.
• Aging infrastructure: Cracked pipelines and illegal connections worsen contamination.
• Over-reliance on the Indus River via Keenjhar Lake, without sustainable management.

These issues are exacerbated by urban sprawl, mismanagement, and poor regulatory frameworks.

The Role of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB)

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is responsible for water distribution but continues to struggle due to:

• Outdated pipelines
• Illegal hydrants and connections
• Financial mismanagement
• Political interference
• Lack of transparency in water quality testing

According to surveys, 86% of respondents say they have not received piped water in years, relying instead on private tankers, wells, and hand pumps—often without any regulation.

Health Hazards and Vulnerable Populations

The health impact of unclean water is particularly harsh on:

• Children: Suffering from diarrhoea, typhoid, and parasitic infections.
• Elderly: Exposed to long-term diseases due to weakened immune systems.
• Women: Often the primary caregivers, bear the burden of sourcing water daily.

Contaminated water leads to thousands of preventable hospitalizations annually, overburdening Karachi’s already stretched healthcare system.

Public Awareness and Infrastructure Challenges

A significant part of the problem is the lack of public awareness and government outreach:

• 42% of residents have never seen water testing in their area.
• 58% are unaware if testing has ever been conducted.
• Many residents don’t trust the government supply, resorting to expensive alternatives.

Moreover, leakages, decaying pipelines, and theft cause massive non-revenue water losses, while citizens bear the financial and health burden.

Urgent Measures Required to Save Karachi

To ensure clean drinking water in Karachi, urgent action is required:

Short-Term Solutions:

• Immediate testing and treatment of existing water sources.
• Crackdown on illegal water hydrants.
• Public awareness campaigns about safe water storage and hygiene.

Long-Term Solutions:

• Overhaul of KWSB operations through digitization and transparency.
• Investment in modern filtration plants and water recycling.
• Enforcing penalties on industrial units discharging pollutants.
• Develop alternative sources like rainwater harvesting and desalination plants.

Without these steps, Karachi risks slipping into absolute water scarcity within 15 years.

Conclusion: Time Is Running Out

The clean drinking water crisis in Karachi is not just a local issue—it is a national emergency. The PCRWR’s findings must serve as a wake-up call to policymakers, stakeholders, and citizens alike.

Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, and allowing half of a major metropolitan city to suffer without it is a failure of governance and planning.

To prevent a full-blown humanitarian crisis, the time to act is now.

External and Internal Links

External Links:

• World Health Organization – Water Sanitation
• PCRWR Official Website

Internal Link :

• Pakistan’s Water Crisis Explained
• Rainwater Harvesting Techniques for Urban Areas