A report that appeared some days back has certainly exposed the myth which has somehow shrouded bottled mineral water for last few years. This is indeed shocking, shameful as well as most unfortunate that as much as 31 percent brands of bottled mineral being marketed in different parts of the country are unhealthy, unhygienic and not safe enough for human consumption .
The report was based on a quarterly monitoring result of the Pakistan Council of Research on Water Resources. It sounds a strong warning to the users of bottled mineral water, whose number is increasing both in public and private sectors for varying reasons, in general and in particular of 27 brands listed therein are exposed to number of serious diseases including different cancerous ailments; these have been found to contain Arsenic and microbiologically contaminated.
It is rather strange and surprising that even after passage of three days of publication of the PCRWR findings in its quarterly report for April to June, 2013, neither the Federal nor any of the Provincial Governments nor their agencies concerned have initiated any action against the company’s marketing these brands.
The report reaffirmed the views of the majority of the people that filtered water system, also in use in the country is also good for health besides tap water or boiled water. The use of the water filtration system could gain popularity among the people of all walks of life if the manufacturers, both foreign and local, and importers and suppliers of the water filtration system could bring down the prices of their products to the affordable level and hygienic quality of such water like that of tap water or boiled water is publicised extensively.
The PCRWR, as a matter of fact, should have made its report public itself and asked the Federal and Provincial Governments specifically as to what punitive action should be taken against companies marketing 27 unhealthy brands of bottled mineral water and at the same time also advised people in so many words not to be attracted by the so-called myth of the bottled mineral water, whose prices are frequently increased due to its growing use, and instead go for water filtration system, boiled water or tap water to the maximum extent possible.
MOHSIN A.H. SHAIKH,
Lahore, July 26.