ISLAMABAD: People in developing countries do not have access to safe drinking water and in Pakistan; the vast majority of the country's 180 million inhabitants do not have access to drinkable water.

According to a report of Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), the best rural water supply amongst the provinces is in Punjab where only 7 per cent of the rural population depends on a dug well or a river, canal or stream.

In Sindh,some 24 per cent of the rural population depends on these sources.

The rural water supply situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Balochistan is worst as about 46 per cent and 72 per cent respectively of the rural population depend on water from a dug well or from a river or canal.

Talking to APP, Chairman PCRWR, Dr.Aslam Tahir said most of the people in developing countries do not routinely think whether or not, the water they are going to drink is safe.

They only categorise to distinguish them in the forms such as tap, spring, and mineral on carbonated.

He said “Sad and alarming fact is that most of the people especially in developing countries do not have access to safe drinking water.

Most of the people are compelled to drink whatever is available to them”.

According to a report by the Leadership for Environment and Development, by the year 2025, almost 52 nations comprising half the world's population will have a severe shortage of potable water.

In the next 25 years, some 3 billion people will be facing water shortages.

Pakistan in its efforts to raise the living standard of its citizens remained largely preferring economic development over environmental issues.

Unchecked disposal of municipal and industrial effluent, poor solid waster management, use of hazardous chemicals, vehicles emissions and industrial activity has contributed to a number of health and environmental hazards, chief among those being water pollution.

Chairman PCRWR Dr Aslam Tahir said much of the country suffers from a lack of potable water due to    industrial waste and agricultural runoff that contaminates drinking water supplies.

He said poverty and high population growth have aggravated, and to a certain extent, caused these environmental problems.

It means that most people are forced to use unsafe water for drinking as well, he mentioned.

According to an estimate, as much as 60per cent of Pakistan's fresh water is wasted and only 40per cent of the water is being used.

Need is to seek out new and cheaper ways to provide safe drinking water for the people.