Officials from the Department of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in Sar-e Pul province report that 70% of residents in Sancharak district still lack access to clean drinking water.

Due to the severe water shortage, the government has prioritized expanding water supply networks in remote and underserved areas of Sancharak.

Juma Haqyar, head of Sar-e Pul’s Rural Rehabilitation Department, stated: "Sar-e Pul is a mountainous province with a high demand for water. Currently, 70% of the population lacks access to safe drinking water."

Habibullah Masroor, the provincial spokesperson, said: "Local authorities, from the governor to department heads, are committed to providing social and developmental services in remote areas."

Meanwhile, residents of Arab Bai village in Sancharak, who recently gained access to clean drinking water, expressed relief over their improved living conditions.

Mahmoodul Hassan, a local resident, said: "Previously, people had to transport drinking water from neighboring villages such as Bazaar Bashi, Archatoo, and Khwaja Surkh using donkeys or vehicles, facing significant hardships."

Abdul Qadir, another resident, said: "Due to water shortages, many villagers were forced to leave their homes. Those who remained struggled to fetch water from distant villages."

Khal Nazar, another villager, recalled past hardships: "We had no water and often went thirsty. Now that water reaches our village through pipes, we are extremely happy. Previously, a 20-liter container of water cost 20 afghani in Bazaar Bashi, and bringing it home was a struggle."

According to the Sar-e Pul Rural Rehabilitation Department, only 20% of the province’s rural population has access to clean drinking water. Local authorities are working to expand water networks across the region.