Water
Unilever supports water sustainability initiatives, and the scarcity of water in Pakistan gives us an opportunity to provide effective solutions for water sustainability and conservation.
Creating a value chain
Our commitment to water sustainability has further advanced with the help of our partner, the Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP).
From availability, to conservation & portable drinking water
To date, we have installed over 370 hand pumps, funded the construction of 3 rain water harvesting reservoirs and tested a windmill in Thar, thus, providing clean water to the villages, available all year round, ensuring better hygiene and health. The rain water harvesting reservoirs can store water for 6 months at a time, providing water for the animals and crops. In addition to working with TRDP, we have developed partnerships with IDE-India and Acumen Fund in order to implement a water conservation programme.
Unilever has been the core supporter of the Drip Irrigation projects, providing pilot funding to Thardeep Rural Development Programme for demonstration projects in Thar. The drip irrigation project in collaboration with Acumen Fund is aimed at facilitating the rural communities in a way that they can be empowered to secure their rights with command over resources and capabilities to manage the process of sustainable development.
As part of its continued support to the project, Unilever further supports this initiative by providing the skills and expertise required (in the form of employee volunteerism / involvement) to help build and expand business.
The Unilever-Acumen Fund Volunteer Programme aims to provide Unilever employees with a challenging opportunity to use their skills and experience to help build sustainable social enterprises in Pakistan. It will also allow Unilever and Acumen Fund to identify and channel talent towards Acumen Fund investees which may benefit from access to professional resources.
Studies have shown that water is being over consumed in the cultivation of crops, and therefore affecting overall water conditions in Pakistan. Drip Irrigation Systems help conserve water during cultivation, saving up to 8 tons of water in every watering cycle.
Disease
Statistics show that water borne diseases are common in Thar. In partnership with SCOPE, we have participated in another pilot scheme whereby we have installed 100 Bio-Sand Filters in the Thar village of Chibriyan. These locally manufactured filters are affordable and easily available. The purpose is to provide purified drinking water to the people by reducing bacterial contamination and thus, helping to reduce the number of water borne diseases in the area.
