Access to clean water was once a daily struggle that shaped every part of life of the community in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan, especially for women and the elderly.
After the floods of 2022, handpumps in the village turned saline, leaving families without safe drinking water. Women and children were forced to walk nearly one kilometer along narrow paths lined with bushes and sand to reach a handpump in a neighboring village. Collecting just one pot of water could take more than an hour, making the task physically exhausting and emotionally draining.
“By the time I return from fetching water, I am completely exhausted. At my age, pumping the handpump is painful for my aching joints, and sometimes I struggle to hold the water pot, even it slips from my hands and breaks. Every day, I worried about how I would manage these chores,” said Sakina, an elderly woman from Basti Mitha.
Collecting water at night was unsafe. During severe shortages, women had to borrow water from neighbors with the promise to return the same amount the next day. When women were sick, the stress of securing water became even heavier, adding mental strain to physical hardship.
To addresss these challenges, Good Neighbors Pakistan, in collaboration with Global Ehsan Relief Pakistan, installed a climate resilient and solar powered water station in the village. The station provides safe, dignified, and inclusive access to clean drinking water, especially for elderly women and other vulnerable community members.
The system includes a solar panel, a deep water boring with an energy efficient pump, a storage tank, and multiple water taps. The water motor pump operates on solar energy generated by the panels, making the system energy efficient and environmentally friendly. This design ensures a steady and reliable supply of clean water without relying on electricity or fuel.
Last August 2025, the water unit was installed in Basti Mitha. Now, more than 80 households have access to safe water close to their homes. Women no longer need to operate handpumps or travel long distances. The reduction in physical strain and stress has improved daily life and overall household wellbeing. Time once spent fetching water is now used for household tasks and income generating activities such as weaving.
Now that the water station is close to my home, I can easily open the tap and fill my utensils safely and come back to home in 10 min. I no longer feel afraid or dependent. I even have more time to make woven household items, which helps me support myself.
Through the Good Water Project, new safe and accessible water sources have been built across 7 communities, helping 1,620 households gain reliable access to clean drinking water.
Yet many families across Pakistan still face the same challenges Basti Mitha once did.
Help us reach 100 communities across Pakistan. Support the Good Water Project today: www.goodneighbors.org/donate
Good Neighbors is an international humanitarian and development organization founded in 1991, working in over 50 countries to make the world a place without hunger and where people live in harmony. Engaging with over 200 communities globally, we empower people and transform communities through social and economic development initiatives. Good Neighbors has General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) since 1996.
For further information, please contact Good Neighbors Global Partnership Center.
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