ISLAMABAD, July 13: The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) on Wednesday expressed its concern over the death of 51 people caused by consumption of contaminated water in Zhob, Lahore, Muzaffarabad and Hyderabad in the first week of the current month. Speaking at a news conference at the camp office of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club, the CRCP advocacy officer, Zahid Ali, said 2,800 serious ailments were reported in these areas caused by consumption of contaminated water.

He said around 14,000 cases of skin disease leishmaniasis had been registered only in Sindh due to use of contaminated water.

The commission organised the press conference with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Mr Ali said the blatant negligence of the authorities concerned and non-implementation of the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) were the main reasons behind deterioration in quality and quantity of water for years.

He said one-third of the country’s population had no access to safe drinking water and 76 per cent people lived without any sanitation facility.

Consequently, 40 to 50 per cent of the ailments were due to the use of contaminated water, while 60 per cent of the hospital beds in the country were occupied by the patients of water borne diseases, he said.

Mr Ali said according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report 60 per cent infant deaths in Pakistan were related to the use of unsafe water.

The CRCP advocacy officer said the government and the agencies concerned only woke up from their slumber when the damage was done.

In addition, he said, the authorities were not candid enough to accept their responsibilities, as the nazim of Lahore was reported to have denied that the recent deaths were caused by use of contaminated water.

He demanded that parliament and the relevant parliamentary committee should perform their role more actively and vehemently to achieve the results of the first-ever environment policy of the country.