Water is the most critical component in human life.

Roughly 70% of the human body, water is found in

the cells. The wellspring of all body liquids including blood, lymph, salivation, stomach related proteins,
pees and so on is the unadulterated drinking water. Water is the controller of all body capacities. It is
the primary regulator for transporting energy. The mind is likewise comprised of 80% of water, serious
drying out may prompt mental confusion, powerlessness to think plainly. Along these lines human body
requires a 6-8 glass of unadulterated water every day to work appropriately.

As a whole we realize that water is an essential component to manage body so drinking water ought to
be hygienic. Otherwise, individuals may experience the ill effects of different water-borne infections. A
Developed nation like Japan is providing unadulterated water in the vast majority of the spots. The
developing nations are confronting the issue of unhygienic drinking water, prompting different water
borne ailment. Yearly numerous individuals are dying because of absence of unadulterated drinking
water particularly pregnant ladies and kids are additionally experiencing this issue.

It has been estimated that almost 1.1 billion people do not have the access to safe drinking water, 2.5
billion do not have the proper access to sanitation and about 5 million people die because of water
related diseases, 10 times the number of people killed in wars on average each year. No doubt that
water is considered to be an infinite good, but many countries are facing water related problems. There
is scarcity of water and the demand of water is rising immensely and those who have access to water,
the problems of water pollution is increasing. It is estimated that by 2025 two third of the population
will be living in the counties who will be facing water shortages problem.

Talking about Pakistan, a developing country, it is not only facing the scarcity of water resource but the
pollution of water as well. The country has exhausted its resources. The water precipitation rate is lower
than the evaporation rate. The per capita clean water availability has decreased from 5000𝑚3 in 1951 to
1100 𝑚3 per annum till date. Water in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Kasur, Gujranwala etc. is
polluted due to various anthropogenic activities. Pakistan water of research in water resources
conducted a detailed study on water quality in 23 major cities in all four provinces in 2002 to 2006 and
the study results showed that almost on average 82-84% of the water quality lies below the accepted
standards for human consumption.

Among all the cities Kasur is facing water pollution at a very high scale which is causing many diseases to
the people who drink such polluted water. The contamination of water included 20 per cent brackish, 10
per cent fluoride, 13 per cent foul smell and one per cent arsenic.”14 districts fail to supply clean water.
“Dawn, (2004, April 15).Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/356461/lahore-14-districts-fail-
to-supply-clean-water.

Contamination Type Explanation Diseases caused

1. Brackish Water- 20% Brackish water is water that has Human kidney can make
more salinity than fresh water, urine contain 2% of salt in
but not as much as seawater water but brackish water

2. Fluoride – 10% Fluoride in water is commonly
found in Pakistan especially in
the areas of Lahore and Kasur.
3. Foul smell- 13% Hydrogen sulphide is the gas
most likely to cause this smell
4. Arsenic- 1% Arsenic occurs in many minerals,
usually in combination with
sulphur and metals.
contains 3% .It is very
dangerous for kidney.
Drinking fluoridated water
has not been shown to
cause or worsen conditions
of the thyroid, kidney,
heart, or other
glands/organs.
Dangerous for health
especially harms the kidney
and lungs.
It could play a role in the
development of diabetes,
cancer, vascular disease and
lung disease. The Food and
Drug Administration says
that long-term exposure to
high levels of arsenic is
associated with higher rates
of skin cancer, bladder
cancer and lung cancer, as
well as heart disease.

On an average 25 million deaths occurs owing to discharge of highly toxic industrial waste. Many of the
industrial waste in thrown to areas which is the resource of drinking water for the local individuals.
Water pollution in Kasur was first reported in July 2000.This problem went viral and attracted the
attention of domestic and international media. Almost 8 years ago media rushed to highlight the case of
bone deformities. More than 400 people were diagnosed with bone diseases. Children’s were especially
affected among the total 72 were under the age of 15.

Water is considered to be the gift from Allah but it has

become a curse for the citizen of Kasur city .Kasur is the
second largest leather producing city of Punjab .The
tannery industry is a major source for the income for
many of the local individuals. The number of tanneries
has gone up from 180 to 200.Alomst 9000 cubic meter
of water waste is being discharged. Outcome was that
stagnant pools were created covering 327 aces with 311
aces of fertile land which was affected especially in the
months of monsoon. Hence, this all contributed to
unhygienic living conditions and polluted drinking water which has caused some serious bone
deformities. Considering these conditions many actions have been taken including UNDP initiated Kasur
tanneries pollution control project in collaboration with the government of Pakistan but all in vain.