The apex court also summoned the Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif to inquire about the quality of the water supply situation and the actions taken to tackle water pollution (quality degradation).
The Punjab CM submitted before the court that the provincial government will soon be able to come up with a comprehensive plan for water treatment to provide safe drinking water to the people.
However, provision of, and access to, safe drinking water is one of the provincial governments’ prime responsibilities.
Industries are a major source of pollution when it comes to both surface and groundwater in Pakistan.
The run off from agriculture has nitrogen and phosphorus-based fertilisers and varying pesticides.
Excessive use of agricultural fertilisers increases the productivity of the soil which it does, but on the contrary impairs the quality of water which was earlier drinkable.
Over 50 to 60 million people might be at risk as they are the ones who use groundwater for human consumption.
The provinces of Punjab, KP and Sindh re-established PHEDs in 2003, 2009 and 2010, respectively.
These developments created further confusion on responsibility and jurisdiction (pertaining to water and sanitation services delivery) whereas PHEDs are operating in rural areas and TMAs in urban areas.
After the promulgation of the Local Government Act of 2012 provinces replaced urban TMAs with town municipal corporations and rural TMAs by district councils.