South Asia
Can you drink tap water in Pakistan?
NoNo, drink bottled
Can you drink the tap water in Pakistan?
Don't drink the tap water. Never drink tap water. Use sealed bottles or a filter; mountain spring water in the north still needs treating.
Key facts
- Safely managed drinking water: 45% of people (2024, WHO/UNICEF JMP).
Tap water by place in Pakistan
| Place | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore | No, drink bottled | Don't drink tap water. Use sealed bottled water or filtered water offered by hotels and restaurants. |
| Islamabad | No, drink bottled | Don't drink tap water. Use sealed bottled water or filtered water served by hotels and cafés. |
| Hunza Valley | Filter or boil | Glacier-fed taps are drunk by locals, but visitors often get stomach trouble. Use bottled, filtered or boiled water. |
| Karachi | No, drink bottled | Don't drink tap water. Use sealed bottled water or filtered water offered by hotels and restaurants. |
| Skardu | Filter or boil | Glacier-fed streams look clean but can cause stomach trouble. Use bottled, filtered or boiled water. |
| Gilgit | No, drink bottled | Do not drink tap water. Use sealed bottles or a filter; spring and glacier water still needs treating. |
| Swat Valley | No, drink bottled | Do not drink tap water. Use sealed bottles or a filter; river and spring water still needs treating. |
Tap water by place
Sources
- World Bank: safely managed drinking water
- US State Department travel advisory
- Pakistan Online Visa System (NADRA)
- Directorate General of Immigration and Passports
- Pakistan Railways
- Speedtest Global Index: Pakistan
- World Bank open data
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