CHINIOT: Drinking water supplied to students at 145 government schools in Chiniot district has failed safety standards, raising concerns over the health of children attending the affected institutions.
According to a report by the District Research Laboratory, the affected schools include 36 high schools, 26 elementary schools and 83 primary schools across the district.
District Research Officer Irshad Ahmed said water samples from 145 of the 451 government schools tested were found to be unsafe for consumption.
The laboratory assessed water quality by examining factors including colour, taste, pH levels and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).
According to the findings, a TDS level of up to 1,000 is generally considered acceptable, while readings in the contaminated samples exceeded 2,000, indicating a significant water-quality concern.
The findings have raised questions about the availability of safe drinking water in public schools and the potential health risks faced by students consuming the contaminated supply.