Arsenic Threat Lurks In Multan Water, Extensive Survey Urged

Multan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Sep, 2026) Arsenic contamination has emerged as a serious water-quality concern in Multan, but its actual extent across the city remains unclear because available testing and research cover different locations, water sources, groundwater depths and periods. Water-testing experts have stressed the need for a comprehensive and representative survey to determine the current level of contamination and identify areas requiring intervention. Saima Gul, Research Officer, Water Testing Management, said arsenic levels could not be generalized for the entire city on the basis of limited samples because contamination may vary according to location, source of water, groundwater depth and the period during which samples were collected and tested. She said drinking water in the city was obtained from different sources, including WASA supplies, groundwater through tube wells and hand pumps, household sources and commercial filtration plants. Therefore, proper assessment required systematic sampling from all major areas and different types of water sources rather than relying on results from limited locations. The concern is particularly important because groundwater is widely used in parts of Multan and surrounding areas. Arsenic contamination may remain unnoticed because affected water does not necessarily show any obvious change in colour, taste or smell. Regular laboratory testing is therefore essential to determine whether a water source is safe for human consumption. A published study examining drinking water in high schools in four tehsils of Multan found arsenic concentrations ranging from 3.25 to 184 micrograms per liter. It reported that 99 percent of the tested samples exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 10 micrograms per liter. Another study covering groundwater in five areas of Punjab, including Multan, found that 75 percent of 123 tested wells exceeded the WHO guideline of 10 micrograms per liter, while 41 percent were above Pakistan's permissible limit of 50 micrograms per litre. Samples were collected from hand pumps, electric pumps and tube wells at varying depths, showing differences in contamination among water sources. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has also reported arsenic contamination in groundwater in several parts of Pakistan, including Multan. Its national assessment covering 45,920 water sources found 13 percent above the WHO guideline of 10 micrograms per liter and three percent above Pakistan's permissible limit of 50 micrograms per litre. The difference between the two standards is important. WHO recommends 10 parts per billion (ppb) as the guideline value for arsenic in drinking water, while Pakistan's permissible limit is 50 ppb. WHO considers inorganic arsenic a confirmed human carcinogen and says long-term exposure through drinking water and food can cause serious health effects, including skin lesions and cancers. It identifies contaminated groundwater as a major source of human exposure and recommends testing water sources and providing safe supplies or appropriate treatment where contamination is found. The issue is not confined to Multan. In Muzaffargarh, around 20 to 25 percent of water samples examined during the past three years were reported to contain arsenic. Ghazanfar, Research Officer of Water Testing Management for Layyah and Muzaffargarh, said the findings covered different parts of Muzaffargarh district, including Muzaffargarh, Alipur and Jatoi tehsils. In Layyah, arsenic was detected in up to 30 percent of drinking-water samples from different areas, with the maximum concentration reaching around 120 ppb. The affected sources included hand pumps and tube wells. Experts have called for regular testing, monitoring and purification of drinking-water sources, particularly in areas heavily dependent on groundwater. The available evidence does not establish that every water source in Multan is contaminated. Rather, the variation in findings from different locations and sources underlines the need for a systematic assessment. A comprehensive city-wide survey covering WASA supplies, groundwater, tube wells, hand pumps, household sources and commercial filtration plants could provide a clearer picture of the current situation. Such an assessment would help identify high-risk areas and determine where treatment or alternative safe water supplies are urgently required. Given the documented presence of arsenic in parts of Multan and other South Punjab districts, continued testing and transparent publication of results are essential to reduce possible long-term exposure and protect communities from a hidden threat that may remain invisible in every drop of water.