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General information |
Water supply and sanitation in Pakistan is characterized by some achievements and many challenges. Despite high population growth the country has increased the share of the population with access to an improved water source from 86% in 1990 to 90% in 2006, and the share with access to improved sanitation from 33% to 58% during the same period according to the Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation. There has also been considerable innovation at the grass-root level, in particular concerning sanitation.
However, the sector still faces major challenges. The quality
of the services is poor, as evidenced by intermittent water
supply in urban areas and limited wastewater treatment. Poor
drinking water quality and sanitation lead to major outbreaks
of waterborne diseases. In addition, many service providers
do not even cover the costs of operation and maintenance due
to low tariffs and poor efficiency. Consequently, the service
providers strongly depend on government subsidies and external
funding. These problems are partly a result of a policy focus
on irrigation, which prevailed in the Pakistani water policy
for decades. This has changed to some extent since the Medium
Term Development Framework 2005-2010 was passed. The framework
provides for about US$404 million per year for water supply
and sanitation and is accompanied by several policy documents
with the objective to notably improve water and sanitation
coverage and quality. However, the level of annual investment
investment (US$4/capita) still remains much below what would
be necessary to achieve a significant increase in access and
service quality.
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Government Type |
| Federal Parliamentary republic |
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Capital |
| Islamabad |
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Geography and Climate |
Geologically,
Pakistan overlaps with the Indian tectonic plate in its Sindh
and Punjab provinces, while Balochistan and most of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa lie within the Eurasian plate which mainly comprises
the Iranian plateau. Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir lie
mainly in Central Asia along the edge of the Indian plate
and are hence prone to violent earthquakes.
The geography of Pakistan is a blend of landscapes varying
from plains to deserts, forests, hills, and plateaus ranging
from the coastal areas of the Arabian Sea in the south to
the mountains of the Karakoram range in the north. Pakistan
is divided into three major geographic areas: the northern
highlands; the Indus River plain; and the Balochistan Plateau.
The northern highlands of Pakistan contain the Karakoram,
Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges, which incorporate some
of the world's highest peaks, including K2 (8,611 m/28,251
ft) and Nanga Parbat (8,126 m/26,660 ft). The Balochistan
Plateau lies to the West, and the Thar Desert in the East.
An expanse of alluvial plains lies in Punjab and Sindh along
the Indus river. The 1,609 km (1,000 mi) Indus River and its
tributaries flow through the country from the Kashmir region
to the Arabian Sea.
Pakistan's climate varies from tropical to temperate with
arid conditions existing in the coastal south, characterized
by a monsoon season with adequate rainfall and a dry season
with lesser rainfall. There are four distinct seasons; a
cool, dry winter from December through February; a hot,
dry spring from March through May; the summer rainy season
or southwest monsoon period, from June through September;
and the retreating monsoon period of October and November.[73]
Rainfall can vary radically from year to year, and successive
patterns of flooding and drought are common.
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Population |
170.6 million (estimate in 2010)
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Economy |
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Pakistan has a semi-industrialized economy. The growth poles of the Pakistani economy are situated along the Indus River. Diversified economies of Karachi and Punjab's urban centres, coexist with lesser developed areas in other parts of the country. Despite being a very poor country in 1947, Pakistan's economic growth rate has been better than the global average during the subsequent four decades, but imprudent policies led to a slowdown in the late 1990s.
The 2005 estimate of foreign debt was close to US$40 billion. However, this has decreased in recent years with assistance from the International Monetary Fund and significant debt-relief from the United States. Pakistan's gross domestic product, as measured by purchasing power parity, is estimated to be $475.4 billion while its per capita income stands at $2,942. The poverty rate in Pakistan is estimated to be between 23% and 28%.
GDP growth was steady during the mid-2000s at a rate of 7%;however, slowed down during the Economic crisis of 2008 to 4.7%. A large inflation rate of 24.4% and a low savings rate, and other economic factors, continue to make it difficult to sustain a high growth rate. Pakistan's GDP is US$167 billions, which makes it the 48th-largest economy in the world or 27th largest by purchasing power adjusted exchange rates. Today, Pakistan is regarded as to having the second largest economy in South Asia.
The structure of the Pakistani economy has changed from a mainly agricultural base to a strong service base. Agriculture now only accounts for roughly 20% of the GDP, while the service sector accounts for 53% of the GDP.
However, the economic crisis of 2008 led Pakistan to seek more than $100 billion in aid in order to avoid possible bankruptcy. This was never given to Pakistan and it had to depend on a more aggressive fiscal policy, backed by the IMF. A year later, Asian Development Bank reported that the Pakistan economic crisis was easing. Furthermore it is projected that in 2010 Pakistan economy would grow at least 4% and could grow more with strong international economic recovery.
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Member of South Asian Organizations
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Initiative towards WatSan |
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Organizations Work For it |
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WatSan Coverage |
- Water Coverage at: (Estimate in 2010)
National Level: 94%
Urban Level: 95%
Rural Level: 93%
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- Sanitation Coverage at: (Estimated in 2004)
National Level: 59%
Urban Level: 92%
Rural Level: 41%
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Technology used for Water Supply |
- Filtration Units with Sediment Cartridges
- Dual Water Filters
- Triple Water Filters
- Filtration System with UV Sterilizers
- UV Sterilizers without Filtration System
- Biosand water filter
- Water Treatment Chemicals
- Filter Media
- Sediment Removal Cartridges
- Custom Designed Water Treatment Plants
- Bag Filters
- Automatic Water Softeners
- Reverse Osmosis Storgae Tanks & Manual Water Softeners
- Custom Designed Bottling Plants
- Containerized Filtration & Desalination System
- Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Systems
- High Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Systems
- Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Systems (above 10,000 GPD)
- Reverse Osmosis System
- Multi Media Automatic Filters
- Stainless Steel Housing
- UV Lamps and Quartz Sleeves
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Technology used for Sanitation |
- Pit Latrines
- Pour/Flush
- Ventilated Improved PIT
- Vault and Cartage
- Trenching
- Aqua Privy and Septic Tank
- Waste Stabilization Pond
- Refuse Disposal
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