Islamabad: A recent report by Gallup Pakistan has underscored the persistent disparities in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services between urban and rural areas in Pakistan. The report reveals that while urban regions boast a 96% access rate to improved drinking water, rural areas lag significantly with only 65% access. This urban-rural divide extends to sanitation and waste management, with only 11% of the population having access to formal garbage collection services.

According to the Gilani Research Foundation, the findings from the latest edition of the PSLM Report 2024-25 are part of Gallup Pakistan’s Big Data series. Initiated to analyze under-utilized datasets and inform public policy, the series highlights the critical need for targeted interventions in rural areas, where only 55% of households have handwashing facilities with soap compared to 80% in urban regions. Additionally, the report emphasizes the gendered impact of WASH access, noting the significant time burden on rural women who are primarily responsible for water collection.

The report further details that while 89% of households nationwide use flush toilets, rural access remains limited at 82%, with areas like Balochistan showing even lower coverage. Formal garbage collection is scarce, leading to reliance on informal waste disposal methods, particularly in urban households, where 67% lack formal services. The findings call for enhanced infrastructure and policy efforts to bridge these gaps and improve public health outcomes across the country.