Water is life—yet millions in Pakistan live without safe, clean drinking water. The country is facing one of the worst water crisis in the world, and if immediate action is not taken, experts warn that Pakistan could run dry very soon.
In the midst of this looming disaster, NGOs in Pakistan are playing a vital role in tackling the water shortage, implementing both emergency relief and long-term solutions.
At Ek Plate Biryani, our mission goes beyond hunger relief—we’re deeply committed to solving clean water scarcity for underprivileged communities across the nation.
The Water Crisis in Pakistan: A National Emergency
Pakistan ranks 14th among the 17 ‘extremely high water risk’ countries, according to the World Resources Institute. The crisis is driven by multiple factors:
- Rapid population growth
- Over-extraction of groundwater
- Climate change and irregular monsoons
- Outdated irrigation systems
- Pollution of rivers and lakes
According to UNICEF, 21 million people in Pakistan lack access to clean drinking water, while over 70% of households drink contaminated water, often leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid.
The Role of NGOs in Solving Pakistan’s Water Shortage
Non-governmental organizations are stepping up where infrastructure and policy have failed. NGOs tackling water shortage in Pakistan are working tirelessly to ensure access to clean water in even the most remote and neglected regions.
Here’s how NGOs are turning crisis into solutions:
1. Installation of Hand Pumps and Solar-Powered Pumps
Ek Plate Biryani and other NGOs install hand pumps, boreholes, and solar-powered water filtration systems in villages where government supply lines don’t reach.
- By the end of 2024, Ek Plate Biryani installed over 600 hand pumps across Thar, Sindh.
- Each hand pump supports around 50 to 100 people daily with safe drinking water.
2. Rainwater Harvesting Projects
To counteract decreasing groundwater levels, NGOs implement rainwater harvesting systems in drought-prone areas. These systems store rainwater for community use, irrigation, and livestock, significantly reducing dependence on contaminated sources.
3. Water Tanker Services in Emergency Zones
During heatwaves and droughts, NGOs deliver clean water via tankers to slums and rural areas. In Karachi’s informal settlements, this has been a lifesaving effort during peak summer months.
How NGOs Are Saving Lives Through Clean Water
Just like with healthcare, access to water directly affects survival and well-being. Here’s how NGOs are saving lives by addressing water shortage:
- Reduction in waterborne diseases: WHO estimates that diarrhea from unsafe water kills 53,000 children annually in Pakistan. NGOs drastically cut this number by providing treated water.
- Improved school attendance: Especially for girls, who often miss school to collect water from distant sources.
- Enhanced public health: Less contaminated water = fewer hospital visits = stronger, healthier communities.
Ek Plate Biryani: Clean Water, Clear Future
At Ek Plate Biryani, we view water access as an extension of both nourishment and public health. Without clean water, no treatment or food aid can be fully effective. That’s why we’ve expanded our work to include:
Community Water Projects
In partnership with engineers and local governments, Ek Plate Biryani sets up deep wells, gravity-fed systems, and portable filtration kits for areas with no municipal water supply.
Targeting the Most Vulnerable
We prioritize marginalized areas of rural Sindh, flood-affected regions in South Punjab, and urban slums in Karachi and Lahore, where the need is most urgent.
Donate to NGOs for Clean Water: Every Drop Counts
Your support makes a real difference. When you donate to NGOs tackling water shortage, you help:
- Build sustainable water sources
- Provide emergency water deliveries
- Educate communities about water safety
💧 $600 can install a Shared handpump
💧 $1200 can sponsor the installation of a hand pump
Real Impact: Stories from the Ground
Safe Water for Drought-Hit Villages
Thousands of small villages in Thar have no access to a steady water supply. With your donations, Ek Plate Biryani installed six solar-powered water pumps and 595 community hand pumps, giving over 50,000 people access to clean water for the first time in years.
A School Transformed
In an underprivileged area in Karachi, students drank from a polluted pond nearby. With our support, a deep-well hand pump was installed. Today, 100+ children drink clean water every day—and school attendance has risen dramatically.
From Crisis to Solution: What You Can Do
The water crisis in Pakistan is massive—but solvable. Here’s how you can be part of the solution:
✅ Donate to NGOs working on water projects
✅ Share awareness about the water crisis
✅ Support long-term sustainability over short-term fixes
Together, we can turn despair into hope, and contamination into clean, life-giving water.
Final Thoughts
Water is not just a necessity—it’s a human right. NGOs in Pakistan tackling water shortage are working day and night to make this right a reality for millions.
From remote villages to urban slums, clean water is changing lives, thanks to the generosity of people like you.
Ek Plate Biryani is proud to be part of this transformation—but we need your continued support. Every pump, every tank, and every drop counts.
👉 Join the mission. Help us provide water, save lives, and build a better Pakistan.
