Boring in Jaranwala begins.
Many of you have been asking for a progress report on our Jaranwala water pump project and I am pleased to advise that the project is underway and
we hope to have two of our pumps installed by the end of the week. Money for the project was given by a Christian charity who work mainly in
Africa. They will be paying for Mehwish Bhatti to go on a trainers course so that further help can be provided to this carpet-making community through the
set up of a ‘Village Savings and Loan Scheme’, entrepreneurial skills and start up assistance.
Two houses have been selected after communal approval by local people. The proposed houses were selected for the ease of travel for the
maximum amount of people in the prescribed clusters, and now the two pumps will serve at least 17 Christian families.
Pumps will be fitted with a clean water filter that will make the drinking water of a pure quality and should help reduce the high illness rates in
the local area and the low life expectancy of 55 years. Diseases such as Cholera, and Typhoid still exist as a major threat for this community.
Currently local people drink from streams or irrigation fields – the same fields they use as public toilets. To filter cleaner water they
wave their hands through the water about to be consumed to remove silt, others use a handkerchief or cloth to slurp water through, by placing it over
water to be drunk. Both mechanisms are highly ineffective and leave them prone to illness and disease.
The pump water can also be used for washing clothes and for personal hygiene purposes. We hope to advise people to use toothbrushes
and toothpaste to improve dental quality and will provide a quantity of supplies to start with, with training on proper use. Until now people
have either forgone dental hygiene or use Miswra which is ineffective. We believe this will reduce dental cavities and prolong the life of natural
teeth.
In addition we hope to advise people on the importance of washing themselves, especially their hands before and after eating, and use of the toilet. We
will provide a supply of soaps and some guidance on use and benefits. Advice will be given on how users can set up a temporary shelter with curtains
for private bucket showering.
We hope to develop this five pump project to include the installation of a toilet and washroom facility at each location. Each installation will
cost an additional £750, and we hope to raise this through donations. Purpose built toilet facilities will provide a safer option than the current use of open fields
that has already led to the kidnap and rape of young vulnerable Christian girls. Many of whom end up in forced Islamic marriage, a process which
Dawn newspaper quoted 700 victims for every year in Pakistan – and that’s just for Christians. Help us win back dignity for long suffering Christians.
If you are moved to assist us in our clean water project please donate now using these bank details:
Sort Code: 20-67-90
Account number: 63468976
Bank: Barclays
Ref: Love for Jaranwala Christians
Alternatively please use the PayPal facility on the top right hand corner of our blog, our PayPal email address is info@britishpakistanichristians.co.uk.
Any cheques should be made payable for the BPCA to our address: 57 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1XG.
With your support we hope to change the lives of millions of Christians in Pakistan.
It will be a long arduous process.
Two families meet with the builders.
One of the mud homes that will now benefit from a water pump.
The plumbing shop where items will be purchased from.
Measurements are required to be accurate.
Tireless effort to get the job done by Christian builders.
A long way to go but we will get there in the end.