Provision of Clean water to the Children of Punjab

Safe drinking water remains one of the most pressing challenges in rural Punjab. According to recent surveys, a significant portion of the population relies on contaminated water sources, exposing familiesespecially women and children, to life-threatening diseases such as diarrhea, hepatitis, and malnutrition. Children are the most vulnerable: frequent illnesses force them to miss school, stunt growth, and create long-term health challenges, while mothers often bear the double burden of caring for sick children and managing households under conditions of scarcity.

This month, while we have not yet begun installing the planned Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plants in Tehsil Samundri, AWARD Pakistan has focused on strategic preparation and community readiness. Our team has conducted consultations with local leaders and families, assessing water sources and understanding the daily struggles faced by households in accessing clean water. These insights have reinforced the critical nature of this project: without intervention, children will continue to consume contaminated water, and preventable illnesses and fatalities will persist.

Planning and technical groundwork are underway, including identifying optimal sites for the RO plants and ensuring that installation, once funded, will be efficient and sustainable. In parallel, awareness campaigns on water hygiene and safe drinking practices continue, helping families take small but meaningful steps to protect their health while waiting for the infrastructure to be in place.

The urgency for funding cannot be overstated. We humbly appeal to our supporters and donors to help make this project possible. Without adequate funding, the installation of RO water treatment plants cannot begin, and children in rural Punjab will continue to rely on unsafe and contaminated water sources. Your support will directly enable the installation of clean water systems, reducing waterborne diseases, lowering medical expenses for families, and protecting the health of children and mothers. With your help, this initiative can move from planning to action and provide sustainable access to safe drinking water for communities that need it most.

Provision of Clean Water to the Children of Punjab – Project Update

Access to safe drinking water remains one of the most urgent needs in rural Punjab. According to national and international studies, more than 84% of Pakistan’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, and in Punjab alone, water from nearly 14% of sources is contaminated with arsenic at levels far above the permissible limit. The health risks for children and women are devastating, with common illnesses including hepatitis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even increased infant mortality.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding during this reporting period, AWARD Pakistan was unable to begin work on the planned Reverse Osmosis (RO) water treatment plants in Tehsil Samundri. While this delay has been a setback, the urgency of the project has only grown stronger as communities continue to rely on unsafe water.

Community members in the target villages have repeatedly shared their hopes for this initiative, as women and children are the ones who suffer the most. Mothers have told us how their children miss school because of waterborne diseases, and how medical costs push families deeper into poverty. It is clear that the installation of RO plants will not just provide clean water but will also save lives, improve child health, and give families a healthier future.

The long-term impact of this project is immense: access to clean water, a measurable decrease in waterborne diseases, healthier mothers and children, and fewer deaths among infants. Most importantly, after a year of implementation, local communities will take care of the project on a self-help basis, ensuring sustainability for the future.

We humbly appeal to our donors and supporters: this is a life-saving initiative that cannot move forward without your help. Every contribution, big or small, will directly bring us closer to installing the first RO plants and giving families the dignity of safe drinking water. Together, we can ensure that no child in rural Punjab has to drink contaminated water again.