Invisible Poison: Punjab’s Arsenic Crisis is a Justice Emergency

ckinitiative
Jul 21, 2025
4 min read

Credits: Mahrosh Usman (Climate Researcher)

How does arsenic contamination in Punjab’s groundwater disproportionately impact rural communities, and what systems of injustice allow it to persist?

Introduction

What if your water could kill you and no one warned you? For decades, invisible and tasteless arsenic has silently poisoned communities across Pakistan’s Punjab province. Millions of people unknowingly consume groundwater contaminated with this toxic metal, which is associated with cancer, birth defects, and neurological damage. Arsenic has been dangerously poisoning populations for decades (Smithsonian, 2017). This is not simply a water crisis; it is a justice issue. Those who suffer the most are poor and rural families: they are the most vulnerable, lack adequate protection, and are the last to be listened to. This brief examines the origins of the arsenic emergency, its lethal consequences, the supporting systems that are failing to resolve the issue, and the urgent solutions that need to be implemented.

Background

What is arsenic contamination?

As with many toxic elements, arsenic is naturally found within the Earth’s crust. In certain areas like the Indus basin in Pakistan, it can seep into groundwater sources due to natural processes. During the process of extracting shallow wells for drinking and irrigation purposes, communities run the risk of tapping into layers rich in arsenic (PubMed, 2017).

Why is it happening in Punjab?

Increased groundwater use, modifications to river basin farming systems, as well as consumption of untreated groundwater for drinking, has increased the risk of arsenic poisoning (Dawn, 2017). The lack of testing and public awareness along with no filtration mechanisms in most rural areas has further exacerbated the situation.

Timeline & key facts:

2000s–2010s: First test campaigns showed sporadic contamination.

2017: Global research published a warning that about 60 million people living in Pakistan were at risk (Smithsonian, 2017).

2020–2024: Inflowing regions of Punjab’s most impacted districts-Kasur, Lahore, Multan; have recorded concentrations approaching 5,000 µg/L which is 500 times the WHO recommended threshold of 10 µg/L (MDPI Water, 2024).

Present-Day Effects

In the contaminated regions, people living in villages such as Badarpur (in Kasur) and Mailsi (in Multan) are exhibiting more advanced symptoms of chronic arsenic exposure, including skin lesions, gastrointestinal distress, persistent weakness, and even cancer. Moreover, preschoolers in these regions are developing more profound delays in cognitive and motor skills and have noticeable neurological symptoms (ScienceDirect, 2023).

Health outcomes:

Dermatological: lesions on palms and feet, dark spots, and thickened skin.
Malignancies: liver, renal, pulmonary, and bladder carcinoma.
Pediatric: impaired growth, memory impairment, and low birth weight.

Economic and Community Effects:

Elevated financial burden due to healthcare,
Reduced productivity due to absenteeism in work/school.
Psychological burden along with social stigma.

Scales:

Lahore: 82% of tested tube wells are contaminated beyond the WHO threshold (MDPI Water, 2024).
Ibrahimabad (Kasur): 91% of wells are deemed unsafe for consumption (PubMed, 2017).
More than 30% of the rural population of Punjab is exposed to hazardous levels of arsenic exceeding WHO guidelines (Smithsonian, 2017).

Systems of Injustice

Why is this a justice issue and not just a water issue?

Because it’s not hitting everyone equally. Poor communities depend on untreated groundwater. Wealthier regions have piped water infrastructures or bottled alternatives. Most villagers do not know their water is contaminated. No tests, signs, or warnings are provided.

Who benefits vs. who suffers:

Suffering: rural regions, children, women

Benefits: Wide scale agriculture and industries exploiting groundwater, corrupt intermediaries, and rural populations with fewer economic protections.

Gaps In Governance:

Inefficient regulation on contamination and safety of water.
Limited allocation for rural servicing including testing and treatment.
Lack of responsibility for enduring harmful effects Singular accountability for long-lasting impacts of pollution.

“Because of lack of rules and regulations, people have exploited the groundwater brutally, and it is driving up arsenic level” — Lubna Bukhari, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (Dawn, 2017)

Solutions / Calls To Action

What’s being done?

Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority set up more than 1,000 filtration plants in impacted districts (The News, 2024). In Badarpur, reverse osmosis (RO) plants powered by solar energy now provide safe drinking water to over 30,000 people. Nonprofits and educational institutions are charting pollution and promoting awareness in educational settings.

What still remains to be done?

Short-term:

Extensive testing and identification of all community wells
Provision of emergency water to high-risk zones
Education in schools regarding the health hazards of arsenic

Long-term:

Regulation of groundwater safety on a national level
Augment solar RO or water systems based on canals.
Educate and engage local young people as water stewards.
Conduct health screenings and maintain health records for affected communities.

Call to Action:

Policy-makers: implement water regulations and finance treatment.
Young people and advocates: promote awareness and call for secure water areas.
NGOs and media: enhance rural perspectives and fund solutions``

Conclusion

This is more than a technical issue-it’s about life, dignity, and rights. All children in Punjab are entitled to clean water. Each family deserves to be informed if their water is contaminated. Governments are obligated to protect their citizens. Would you let your own child drink this water? No-so why should anyone else?

Your Voice Matters: Act Now with CKI

Punjab’s contaminated wells require more than just sympathy-they demand your intervention. By participating in CKI’s Climate Ambassador Program, you can increase awareness of water injustice, conduct school workshops on the health risks of arsenic, and urge local authorities to test and address contaminated wells. Prepared to take the next step? The CKI Climate Enrichment Program assists volunteers in raising funds for clean water filters, coordinating mobile health screenings, and supporting legal initiatives for safe water access in rural Punjab. Whether you're designing posters, organizing webinars, or gathering narratives from impacted families-your voice can help transform toxic neglect into clean, equitable change.