Procter & Gamble cleans Pakistan water

People displaced by armed conflict in Pakistan are to receive more than 11 million litres of clean drinking water through a partnership between Procter & Gamble (P&G), the international household products and food group, and the Christian relief charity World Vision.

A second partnership, between P&G and Pakistani humanitarian groups, including Project Hope, will provide 25 million litres of purified water.

World Vision and Project Hope, funded by P&G, are distributing packets of the company’s water purifying powder to 130,000 people. Every packet purifies up to ten litres of water by eliminating parasites, bacteria and other contaminants.

Studies show that the use of the water purifying powder has reduced diarrhoeal illness by up to 90 per cent.

Altogether 2.5 million Pakistanis, half of whom are children, have been displaced by recent conflict and are streaming into camps, where they urgently need clean drinking water, clothing and food.

P&G’s contribution to the effort is put at $326,000 (£200,000). Keith Kall, World Vision’s executive director of corporate development, said: ‘There is an urgent need for more support for the internally displaced people of Pakistan.’