Pakistan is blessed with plenty of natural resources with water as the most imperative one as it has always played a vital role in the economic development of Pakistan and is likely to continue as such in the future. Pakistan with 2053 m³ per person, rank eighth in per capita fresh water withdrawal among the 130 countries listed in the 1995 World Development Report. Out of total developed water resources of the country agriculture sector is the major user of water (96%) followed by domestic (3%) and industrial sectors (1%). However, rapid population growth (2.6% per annum), increased urbanization and industrialization, mismanagement in development and use of water resources for various purposes as well as extended drought have resulted in water scarcity. The water shortage and increasing competition for multiple uses of water adversely affected the quality of water. Therefore, the water quality of both surface and groundwater has been identified as one of the water resource issues in Pakistan as the access to clean domestic water in the urban and rural sub-sectors is low in terms of quantity as well as quality. In the backdrop of this situation, UNICEF has reported that out of total, 40% diseases (NCSS, 2003) prevalent in the country are waterborne and 20-40% hospitalizations are due to such diseases. In addition poor access of citizens to safe drinking water is one of the major reasons for unbridled rise in poverty due to the high cost of illnesses and loss of working days occurring due to water-born diseases. Considering the emerging problems from the inadequate access of population to safe drinking water (only 60%, UN Commission on Sustainable Development 30th April, 2004) and deteriorated water quality, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has initiated a mega project entitled “National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWQMP)” with total cost of Rs. 39.66 millions for a period of five years (2001-2006). The said water quality monitoring program is designed including 23 cities, 6 rivers, 5 dams, 2 reservoirs, 3 lakes and 2 major drains to meet the monitoring requirement and objectives of the project. Methodology for collection, preservation and transportation of monitoring and quality control samples as well as laboratory analyses was adopted according to recommendations of standard methods (American public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water environment Federation, 1992).  In general, surface and groundwater were found in few cases with the problems of exceeded turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, sodium, iron, fluoride, sulfate, TDS and potassium than WHO guideline values. However, on the basis of overall findings, water resources of Pakistan are facing the four major water quality tribulations such as bacteriological contamination (28-100%), arsenic (0-100%), nitrate (0-50%) and fluoride (0-55%) in all the four completed phases (2001-2005) of the monitoring program.

Moreover, water quality data bases including data generated from NWQMP with complete details is well established in the form of website (www.pcrwr.gov.pk). Disclosure of water quality status as a result of NWQMP at the platform of higher government authorities to lower tiers has highly sensitized the implementing agencies to take relevant rectification measures to resolve the water quality problems at the local as well as national level. Researchers, policy makers and planners are well utilizing the water quality data of Pakistan for the future plans and also resulted in provision of clean and safe drinking water to citizens as a top priority in the development agenda of the government as well as first National Water Policy envisaging the whole water issue, strategies, conservation and institutional reforms.