Lesely A PSPC Lady Consultant from Yorkshire UK Visiting

Adam Wahan

(A Downtrodden Village of the South Punjab, Pakistan)

(February 21, 2015)

Mr. Munim (Regional Director PSPC) along with Mr. Mohsin Babber Manager Communication, Ms. Lessely

PSPC Consultant from UK, Ms. Ayesha Research Analyst, Mr. Manzoor Project Manager MDF & Awaz CDS

Adam Wahan is a village of district Lodhran situated at main National Highway with a total

population of around 10,000 people or 1300-1400 households approximately. Ms. Lesely a

senior consultant of the Punjab Saaf Pani (PSPC) came from Yorkshire UK to visit the

specified project areas of district Lodhran where held a meeting at village Adam Wahan...

She was accompanied by a Senior team of the PSPC, consisted of Mr. Munnim (Regional

Director Bahwalpur), Mr Javed Akhtar Manager Social Mobilization, Mr. Mohsin Babber

Manager Communication and Mr. Pervaiz Gondhal Manager Community Mobilization; the

purpose to visit the area with an objective to work out socially sustainable solution because

PSPC firmly believes that any engineering solution cannot be efficacious until its

comprehensively owned by the community. A team of the developing partners MDF and

Awaz CDs also joined them; such team was consisted of Mr. Manzoor Hussain Project

Manager, Mr. Naushad Kazi Manager Community Mobilization and Entrepreneurship and

Mr. Muhammad Paryal Manager Health & Hygeine.

The both teams found unavailability of the water supply schemes or distribution network in

the village. A structure for Filtration Plant erected in the courtyard of a local Union Council

office, some 10 years ago. The plant was never made operational, nor was the machinery

installed. So, the people of the vicinity are compelled to drink chemically contaminated water

with heavy concentrates of iron. A fibreglass or iron sheeted room originally built for the

purpose, now being used as a store. The quality of the available water is apparently good, but

it changes colour after some time and turns yellowish....Population belongs to the middle and

lower income group, majority of which associated with different professional groups vary

from farm labour to daily wagers. The only water source for drinking water in the village

was ground water pumped out through electric pumps /machines or hand pumps.

The people were briefed about the Punjab Saaf Pani Company while the visit; they were

told that PSPC is an initiative by the Government of Punjab has intervened to install filter

plants and other suitable schemes in the area of south Punjab; purpose to provide an

evidence-based water solution to the inhabitants. The both teams convened a focus group

discussion separately with men and women groups of the community who pledged to form an

effective and active joint organization to run the management and operations of the water

supply solution, which will be proposed by the Saaf Pani Company and implemented by

MDF & Awaz CDS with mutual support of EMC. The people were also informed that the

company will bear the operational cost for three years, if a Filtration Plant is found feasible.

On a question that the people often promise to run the schemes on their own but end up

leaving it unattended for various reasons, a resident loudly said that, If we will continue to

get clean drinking water for three years, it would be next to impossible for us to let the

scheme abandoned or non-functional.

The Local Community of Adam Wahan Clapping while visit of the official of PSPC and implementing partners

MDF & Awaz CDS

A community person telling how to carry water from the source

A ray of hope among the Community