Blog contributed by Muhammad Sheikh, President, Houston-Karachi Sister City Association. Click here to view the original post on medium.
On January 15, 2016, a new water pump and filtration plant was installed in Karachi, Pakistan. The installation of this water pump and filtration plant was brought to be after a devastating heat wave in June 2015 that took the lives of over 2,000 people in Karachi and affected countless others. The plant, which is sponsored by the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association (HKSCA), has a capacity of 2,000 liters per day, providing fresh, clean water to over 60,000 people. It serves as a first step towards preventing similar tragedies in the future.
The availability of clean water is a pressing concern across Pakistan, and the bustling metropolis of Karachi is no exception. With a population of over 23 million and an arid climate along the coast of the Arabian Sea, Karachi’s demand for water is significant in even the best of times. However, last June it saw temperatures rise to over 113°F (45°C) for five consecutive weeks, placing a tremendous strain on water resources. The new plant, which uses a submersible pump and reverse osmosis technology, is intended to not only aid residents in the immediate area, but also serve as an inspiration for neighboring communities to adopt similar methods and ensure future water supplies.
Shortly after the tragedy, the President of the HKSCA, Muhammad Sheikh, approached Helping Hand for Relief & Development (HHRD), a top U.S.-based international humanitarian organization, and offered to sponsor one of its three ongoing water pump projects in Karachi. HHRD Team in Pakistan completed this project in collaboration with local vetted credible NGO.
Earlier in 2014 when Tharparkar, Sind, Pakistan was hit by a historic drought and famine, HKSCA in association with HRHD installed a solar powered submersible pump with a capacity pf 18,000 liters per day in the Village of Dadsar, Tharparkar. Before this project, it was very difficult to plant a single seed in Dadsar, but with this HKSCA sponsored sweet water project, the infertile land has been blessed with fertility, with fruits and vegetables being grown in the area.
By implementing this Karachi submersible pump with reverse osmosis filtration plant project in coordination with the HKSCA counterpart in Pakistan, the HKSCA’s actions give credit to the Sisters Cities mandate, which aspires to link these cities through business, educational, cultural, and humanitarian endeavors.
In response to HKSCA’s efforts, Sheihk said, “This is a humble gift from the people of Houston, Texas, USA, to the people of Karachi, Sind, Pakistan.”