Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
The situation of water, sanitation, and hygiene in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is no longer a matter of minor administrative lapses or weaknesses; it has become a clear example of total state failure. This is a sector where every successive government has made promises, formulated plans, and issued statements, yet in practice, all have failed to provide the public with clean water, a safe environment, and healthy living conditions. Today, most urban and rural areas of the province are paying the direct price of this crisis in terms of disease, poverty, and poor human health.
The facts lay bare this failure. Nationally, only 39 percent of people have access to safe drinking water, meaning 61 percent of the population is forced to rely on unsafe or contaminated water. In the province, access to safe drinking water stands at only 19 percent, leaving more than 81 percent of the population deprived of this basic facility, meaning that the majority either have to drink contaminated water or rely on substandard sources. Various government and non-government studies indicate that a large portion of water used in homes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is contaminated with bacteria, and a significant number of bottled water samples sold in the market have been found unsafe, demonstrating that the water monitoring and quality system is practically non-functional.
The consequences of contaminated water and poor sanitation are spreading rapidly in the form of diarrhea, cholera, jaundice, skin diseases, and malnutrition among children. Experts state that waterborne diseases account for approximately 80 percent of total illnesses, and the deaths caused by these diseases constitute about 33 percent of all deaths. Each year, diarrhea and water-related illnesses alone cause the death of 53,000 children under five, while many more suffer from chronic illness, malnutrition, and stunted growth. In Pakistan, of over 19.5 million children under five, 57.5 percent are at high risk due to poor water and sanitation conditions, and this risk rises to approximately 70 percent in rural areas. These statistics are not just numbers—they represent the lives of millions, disability, poverty, illness, educational loss, and violation of human dignity, which continue to increase.
The most distressing reality is that despite these figures, neither the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has implemented meaningful reforms nor has public awareness improved significantly. Publicity campaigns and official statements remain ineffective against the reality of contaminated water, clogged drains, and piles of garbage in people’s homes. Promises, newspaper ads, seminars, and speeches cannot change the situation. The wellbeing of the population will only be ensured when continuous, legal, and actionable access to safe water is guaranteed, transparent testing and monitoring are enforced at all levels, municipal and administrative bodies are provided with real resources, powers, and responsibilities, public awareness and training programs reach schools, mosques, and community centers, and officials and institutions who fail to protect the public’s health are held accountable.
These figures make it clear that the problem today is not merely drinking water but the survival of human lives, the smiles of children, the hope of parents, and social protection, which have been neglected for decades due to political indifference and bureaucratic apathy. If water, sanitation, and hygiene in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not made a government priority now, this crisis will not remain limited to diseases alone but will escalate into a deep social and economic disaster. By then, the statistics will only remain in reports, while the real human loss will stand as the greatest shame in the history of the province.
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