ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) director general Lubna Bukhari revealed on Thursday that the country contained a significant number of clean water sources, but 80 per cent of the surveyed water samples were contaminated.

This was announced on Thursday, at the launch of the Ensuring Access to Safe Drinking Water project and seminar organised by the Network for Consumer Protection.

`I can`t say anything about all the water sources in the country,but as per our findings based on random sampling, we have found 80 per cent of water microbiologically contaminated,` she said. Ms Bukhari added that these contaminants could cause water borne diseases.

She said the collaboration of various organisations was necessary in order to find a viable solution to water quality and scarcity problems. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) director Ziaud Din Khattak said that the quality of the water used by Islamabad residents was not entirely safe.

However, he added that various steps were being taken to improve the situation. He emphasised the need for safe water and called fora national action plan.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Water Supply deputy director Saqib Elahi said that there were 180 mini water filtration plants in Rawalpindi, and that the agency is working to ensure safe drinlcing water for all consumers.

He said Rawalpindi residents have three main sources of water: Rawal Dam, Khanpur Dam and underground tube wells. Mr Elahi said that Wasa regularly updates the EPA on the quality of water provided to citizens. `There is no serious issue in Rawalpindi,` he said, `We provide safe water to residents.

Capital Development Authority(CDA) Water Supply deputy director Irfan Khokar said besides other sources, 37 filtration plants are functioning in Islamabad to provide safe water to residents.

Highlighting the importance of the project, Ensuring Access to Safe Drinlcing Water executive coordinator Nadeem Iqbal said that the main objective of the project is to make various government departments responsible for ensuring safe drinking water to the table, to develop much needed synergy and help consumers develop an understanding of safe water.

The seminar was attended by experts and students.