KARACHI, March 1: At least 1.2 billion people are living without having healthy drinking water, while millions of gallons of water were wasted daily including millions of gallons in Karachi alone.

These figures were presented by speakers at a seminar organised by Siemens Pakistan at a local hotel. The speakers urged the citizens to use safe and healthy drinking water, as contaminated water was causing hepatitis B and C.

They said the government wanted to install about 6,000 water treatment plants in rural areas of the country so that hepatitis which was spreading could be controlled.

Advisor to chief minister Sindh, Tariq Hassan who was the chief guest on the occasion, said that the quality of water in our country required immediate attention. He said that the government was giving great importance to providing sustainable and clean water supply system capable of meeting consumers’essential needs now as well as in the future.

The other participants spoke about waste water treatment, waste water chlorination, water projects in Pakistan and control systems in water and also briefed the participants about the technology and solutions available with Siemens in this regard.

They said Siemens Pakistan had been working in this sector to bring global technology with local resources.