ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: A civil society organization has asked the federal and provincial governments to take urgent steps to safeguard population as well as environment in southern Punjab from poisonous effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and arsenic found in drinking water.

Jhoak Development Foundation, an NGO working with farming communities, on Tuesday expressed concern over reports that water in most areas of southern Punjab, including Multan city, contained dangerous amounts of arsenic and POPs residues.

It was critical of the federal, provincial and district government for not taking any steps to provide clean drinking water to the residents. According to a recent survey, drinking water being used in 23 girls primary schools in Multan city contained dangerous amounts of arsenic.

At some of these schools, arsenic contents in water were eight times more than the level permissible by the WHO, the NGO claimed. It asked the government to make arrangements for laboratory tests of underground water throughout southern Punjab.

Wherever the water contains arsenic or residues of POPs, immediate steps should be taken for the provision of clean drinking water, it said. Citing recent media reports, it said irrational use of the hazardous pesticides and insecticides was causing cancer and other diseases, especially in southern Punjab.

It urged the government to institute a task force which should immediately check the use of pesticides containing POPs. Such pesticides should then be removed from the market and properly disposed of, it further demanded.