Islamabad. CRCP Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan has established a Water User line to facilitate a speedy redress of complaints related to drinking water. The complaints of shortage and irregular water supply and poor quality standards of drinking water can be registered with water user line at CRCP

CRCP stated that the citizens in urban areas are facing the problems of acute shortage and poor quality of drinking water and whatever limited water is being provided, is not fit for human consumption. This situation is rather grim in urban slum and kachi abadies and people residing there are the worst victims of water born diseases. Major and very frequent water born disease include cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. 80 % diseases are caused by contaminated Water. A survey conducted by CRCP reveals that 78 % water supplied in Rawalpindi and Islamabad is contaminated and not fit for human consumption.

A study by the National health laboratories concluded that 80 5 of the diseases in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are due to polluted water. A survey conducted by Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resource (PCRWR) showed that 30 % of all reported cases of illness and 40 % of all deaths in Pakistan are attributed to water disease. According to PCRWR that 81996 cases of water related disease were registered only in Basic Health Units of Rawalpindi Division within a year.
International Standard for water leakage is 5 % where as according to a study conducted by NESPAK the leakage rate in Islamabad is 30 %. This is reflective of sheer negligence and inefficiency of the concerned quarters. CRCP also impressed upon CDA and WASA to improve the situation. Inefficiency of their staff should not be passed on to the consumer.

CRCP condemned the role of concerned authorities, which are quite indifferent to these water related problems. There is a lack of mechanism ensuring a regular supply of water to the consumers. Moreover, so far no quality standards have been formulated for water. There are no proper arrangements for regular laboratory tests to ensure the quality of drinking water. CRCP reveled that its survey shoes that even some of the bottled water is not up to the mark. Companies providing bottled water quality are thriving due to state's inefficiency in terms of poor drinking water quality and shortage but are also cheating the consumers by providing water not fit for human consumption.

CRCP request the water consumer to come forward and register their grievance, and suggestion with CRCP WATER USER LINE on phone 051 2854574, email crcp@comsats.net.pk or P.O.Box: 1379 Islamabad to put a sustained pressure on the government and private water providers and redress the consumer complaints