SHAHZAD AHMAD

LAHORE - Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar Tuesday directed bottled water firms to mend ways and rectify their errors within 10 days.

The chief justice heading a two-member bench issued these directions at Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry while hearing a suo motu case regarding use of groundwater by mineral water companies. The CJP also directed a judicial commission to inspect bottled water companies.

Punjab Food Authority Director General Muhammad Usman and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) managing director, among others, appeared before the bench. During the hearing, the food authority DG informed the apex court that 350 companies selling substandard water had been banned.

The chief justice lauded the performance of DG Usman, saying he was the right person appointed on the right post. The chief judge asked him that the latter was responsible for ensuring the provision of potable water across Punjab province.

The chief justice asked why cases had not been registered against companies selling substandard water. The DG responded that notices were issued to the bottled water companies but they refused to receive the same. The apex court also ordered the closure of Naubahar Bottling Company selling bottled water.

Meanwhile, a report on the quality of bottled water was submitted in the court. The report said each company was using 90 million litre of water a day. There was no certified method to assess the quality of water and only Qarshi had a certified laboratory.

The report found that groundwater contained fluoride and arsenic too. It also highlighted that none of the other companies were aware of what was in the water that they were extracting from the ground.

The auditor general’s report found that the cost of a 1.5 litre water bottle, including packaging, was Rs8.79.

Chief Justice Nisar said that the court was focusing on reducing the price of water. He remarked, “This is a matter of the public lives. The court will have a strict probe conducted. Water companies are lying and earning crores (of rupees).”

He said, “Unless a ‘big man’ is reprimanded, he will not do the right thing.” He also questioned why Nestle had not retained the quality of its bottled water in Pakistan. He clarified, “We will not let Pakistan be treated like a third world country and we will not tolerate discrimination.”

During the last day hearing, the court had summoned the owners of 11 bottled water firms. Issuing a very strict order, the CJ had warned that the failure of the owners of the companies in turning up will result in their names being put on the exit control list (ECL). Following the order, the companies’ owners including Naubahar owner Adnan Khan appeared in the court yesterday. As he became rude to the Punjab Food Authority director general, the court expressed its displeasure with his attitude. However, he later asked the court for forgiveness.

The court also ordered a Pakistan’s top company selling water unfit for consumption to shut down its water plant in Gujranwala.

He said masses were being deceived in the name of mineral water. He termed it a matter of people’s lives, and remarked that those in power would not change their attitude until a strict action was taken against them.

On the other side, the court praised Qarshi and Gourmet water companies, saying that “Companies selling clean water are praise worthy.” The hearing of the case was adjourned till December 3.