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Four Deaths Near Islamabad Spark Water Safety Fears
M
Moneycontrol•18-10-2026, 14:49
Four Deaths Near Islamabad Spark Water Safety Fears
- •Four young people died within a month in Sarai Kharboza, Dhoke Abbasi, and Mohalla Usmania near Islamabad, sparking serious concerns over drinking water safety.
- •Residents are urging the federal health minister to order a transparent inquiry and laboratory testing to determine if local water supplies are contaminated.
- •Reports of liver failure in some cases have heightened fears, though the exact causes of death and any link to water contamination remain unconfirmed.
- •Health experts warn that sewage leaks, groundwater pollution, and poor sanitation can compromise water supplies, advising residents to boil water or use reliable filters.
- •WHO statistics from 2019 indicate that Pakistan recorded 38.8 deaths per 100,000 people due to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene.
Key Questions Answered
The deaths of four young people within a month in three localities on the outskirts of Islamabad raised concerns over drinking water safety, prompting residents to demand an investigation and laboratory testing.
Dr Gul Khan stated that drinking water can become contaminated when sewage leaks into supply pipelines, groundwater becomes polluted, or flooding damages water sources, with inadequate sanitation also increasing risks.
World Health Organisation statistics show that Pakistan recorded 38.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 attributable to unsafe water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene facilities.
