Sir: Lakki Marwat is one of the southern districts of Khyer Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. According to the census of 1998, the district had a population of 490,025.But now it is estimated to be more than 700,000. Lakki district has been facing an acute shortage of water for many months. A number of people hailing from remote villages are forced to share pond’s water for drinking and other daily requirements along with animals. According to a survey, 80 percent residents of Lakki Marwat do not have access to clean water. Due to the water crisis, a number of severe diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, amoebic dysentery and even hepatitis have spread in the area. The only water filtration plant in Lakki city has been lying dysfunctional for so many months. The residents of Lakki district have to travel distant places in pursuit of clean water. Unfortunately, the authorities concerned do not pay attention to the faulty tube-wells and thus people are compelled to use contaminated water from ponds. Many residents have migrated to places near Lakki city where intensity of water scarcity is low. Being one of the most backward districts of Khyber pakhtunkhwa, the successive governments have not paid any heed to rid the local residents of the problem of water scarcity. The inhabitants of Lakki Marwat pay huge sums of money in the form of taxes but they are deprived of the basic amenity of life. M ADEEL KHAN Lakki Marwat