A growing humanitarian emergency is unfolding in the Thal region of Pind Dadan Khan, a tehsil of Jhelum district in Punjab, Pakistan.
The area is currently facing a severe water crisis, with underground water levels dropping to dangerously low depths and rainfall becoming increasingly scarce. As temperatures soar during peak summer, thousands of local residents are struggling to meet their daily needs, with many deprived of even basic access to clean drinking water.
What makes the water crisis in Pind Dadan Khan particularly alarming is not only the climatic shift but also the role of local industrial activity. Residents blame the large number of cement factories, salt mines, and soda ash plants operating in the area for contaminating the underground water. The high mineral content, especially salt, has rendered the water undrinkable and unsafe for household use. As a result, residents must rely on private water tankers or travel long distances to find usable water — a costly and unsustainable solution for the majority.
The crisis is pushing the community to its limits. Reports indicate that residents have begun organizing daily protests in front of local government offices and industrial facilities. The frustration is growing, and the community is demanding urgent and practical action from the authorities. They have appealed directly to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Secretary Punjab, Secretary of Public Health Engineering, Commissioner Rawalpindi, and the Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum to take immediate notice before the situation escalates into a full-scale public health disaster.
Community members are calling for a series of interventions to address the crisis. These include the immediate restoration of abandoned water supply schemes, the installation of new tube wells, and the development of sustainable water storage and filtration projects. Locals argue that without such measures, the crisis will deepen, putting the health and survival of thousands at risk.
The water crisis in Pind Dadan Khan is not a new issue. The Thal area has faced water scarcity for many years. However, the problem has now reached a tipping point due to a combination of environmental degradation, lack of government oversight, and unchecked industrial expansion. What was once a manageable challenge has now turned into a dire emergency with long-term implications for public health, agriculture, and daily life.
Despite several previous complaints and written requests to local authorities, little has been done to resolve the issue. Residents feel abandoned and ignored. The absence of a coordinated response is not just disappointing — it is dangerous. The worsening water shortage is a wake-up call not only for district authorities but also for provincial and national leadership.
Without swift and decisive action, this crisis could evolve into a humanitarian disaster. Water is not a luxury — it is a necessity. It’s time the voices of Pind Dadan Khan’s residents were heard, and their basic right to clean, safe water was secured.
