A new government report has revealed that a majority of Pakistan’s urban centers are grappling with unsafe drinking water, with 61% of water supplies in 29 cities found to be contaminated.Major cities like Karachi and Multan are among the worst affected, posing serious health risks to residents. The report, presented by the Ministry of Water Resources, shows alarming contamination rates, with Gilgit, Mirpur Khas, and Shaheed Benazirabad reporting 100% of their drinking water to be unsafe.

Karachi’s water supply is 93% contaminated, while Multan’s stood at 94% and Badin at 92%.Other cities facing significant contamination include Bahawalpur (76%), Sargodha (83%), Faisalabad (59%), and Sheikhupura (60%). In Balochistan, Quetta and Loralai reported contamination levels of 59%, while Hyderabad was at 80%, Sukkur at 67%, and Muzaffarabad at 70%.

The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), responsible for the study, regularly shares its findings with provincial authorities. However, with the responsibility of providing clean drinking water shifted to the provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the report highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring safe water for millions amid growing public health and environmental concerns.