Access to potable water remains a problem, says report

ISLAMABAD: Access to clean drinking water continues to be a major problem in Pakistani cities.
Only 65.2 per cent of households in Pakistan’s ten major cities have access to piped water connections said the State of Pakistani Cities (SPC) report launched on Thursday.
The report presents the current state of development in the 10 largest cities of Pakistan and shed light on the state of economy, social service delivery, planning and development, housing, environment and heritage in the cities of Pakistan.
The report says that according to census 2017, around 75 million people live in urban areas and 54 per cent of the total urban population lives in 10 cities of the country.
It further says that Pakistani cities vary in terms of their size, economy, employment and tax revenues.
Services and industry are the major employment sectors in Pakistani cities.
Pakistan generates 95 per cent of its total federal tax revenue from its 10 major cities and Karachi contributes 55 per cent, Islamabad 16 per cent, and Lahore 15 per cent.
The report emphasises that Pakistani cities need to better plan and manage their development to meet the needs and demands of their citizens and indeed of the country.
Living by the sea, residents of NA-248 crave drinking water Interim Federal Minister for Climate Change Yusuf Shaikh in his remarks reiterated commitment of the government to formulate the National and Provincial Urban Policies through participatory approach to arrive at viable solutions for climate resilient urban development in the country and support measures to implement SDG 11 for inclusive, safe, and resilient cities.
“Sustainable and inclusive urban economies can be created by promoting urban strategies and policies that strengthen the capacity of cities to realize full potential as drivers of socio-economic development,” Akhtar said.

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