Safe water in Pakistan: water quality, drought and what to store

Short answer. Treat tap water with care: in its 2020 national monitoring of 29 cities, the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) found 61% of 435 water sources unsafe to drink ¹. PCRWR advises boiling contaminated water for 10 minutes and cleaning storage tanks every 3 months ². NDMA lists water in the emergency kit with no quantity ⁵. City water stress is "extremely high" ⁶.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

Phaenyx found no national system of boil-water or do-not-drink notices in Pakistan: follow your water and sanitation agency (WASA) or local administration. PCRWR's national monitoring shows why caution matters: of 435 sources in 29 cities, 168 (39%) were safe and 267 (61%) unsafe in 2020 ¹. In Islamabad 29% were unsafe, in Karachi 93%, mainly from bacteriological contamination ¹.

PCRWR runs 24 water quality laboratories that provide testing and advisory services to the general public ⁷. See also reading a tap water quality report and what to do during a boil-water notice.

How do I make water safe at home?

PCRWR's household advice ²:

• Clean underground and overhead water tanks every 3 months, and keep them covered.
• Boil microbiologically contaminated water for 10 minutes.
• Chlorinate: chlorine tablets sold in the market treat 20 to 30 litres each.
• Household filters and ultraviolet (UV) treatment also work, if cartridges are replaced.

More in our water purification guide.

Is bottled water safe?

Not always. PCRWR tests bottled water brands every quarter and names unsafe ones. In April-June 2026, 29 of 230 brands (13%) were unsafe ³. Check the latest list on PCRWR's bottled water page before you stock up.

How much water should I store?

NDMA gives no quantity: water is on its kit list without a figure ⁵. In a drought, the Sindh disaster management authority advises communities to "take all possible measures for water storage for dry period" ⁴. For volumes used elsewhere, see how much water to store per person and water storage containers.

Is Pakistan short of water?

Yes. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of Pakistani towns is in the "extremely high" category for current water stress, stays "extremely high" in the 2050 business-as-usual projection, and is "medium to high" for drought risk ⁶. These are medians across the country: a given area can sit higher or lower.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department's National Drought Monitoring Centre issues drought alerts; its alert of 24 March 2025, relayed by the Sindh authority, placed districts of Sindh in moderate or mild drought ⁴. See drought preparedness and no running water at home.

What should I do after a flood?

See water safety after a flood and private wells in an emergency.

Frequently asked questions

Is tap water safe to drink in Pakistan?

Often not without treatment: 61% of the sources PCRWR tested in 2020 were unsafe ¹. Boil it for 10 minutes or treat it ².

How long should I boil water?

10 minutes, according to PCRWR ².

Who checks bottled water?

PCRWR, every quarter, with the list of unsafe brands ³.

Preparedness index: Pakistan ranks joint 55th of 67, 41.5/100 · full ranking