The fight for water access in Punjab
The state of Pakistan has taken upon itself to provide water as an essential service. The governance structure through a hierarchical approach defines related responsibilities – from quality standards to…
The mirage of safe water
The right to safe drinking water has been recognised as a universal human right. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also endorse this right through political commitment at country level…
Water for some
IN 2024, the fact that almost half of Pakistan’s urban population must go without access to water has to be one of the biggest service delivery disasters in the history…
Balochistan in hot water
BALOCHISTAN is fast emerging as Pakistan’s climate hotspot. In recent years, it has become a favourite destination for the monsoon rains. Owing to widespread flooding, all ground links of the…
Investing in food and water
PAKISTAN has reached its dead end of unproductive borrowing. The country is mired in a debt trap, with a national debt of over Rs63,000 billion and little to show for…
Navigating these choppy waters
Historically, Pakistan has faced several economic crises, and the most recent economic challenges are not only disturbing but alarming as well. At the moment, we face several economic issues including…
Bankers pour cold water on red hot coal
It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times. At least when it comes to mining coal. After years of decline, demand for the polluting fossil fuel has surged…
Gaza’s water crisis
“The water is back,” one family member would announce in a mix of excitement and panic, often very late at night. The moment such an announcement was made, my whole…
Water, water everywhere…
The country lies devastated by unprecedented monsoon rains and floods. Over half of Pakistan is under water, leaving desperate victims without hearth, home, food, medicine or any other needed goods…
Waterbodies for life
A RECENT study by a British university on 258 rivers in 104 countries has ranked the river Ravi among the world’s three most polluted rivers. It has detected high levels…
