The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has closed eight bottled water plants after tests revealed high levels of chemical and bacterial contamination. The sealed plants include SS Water and Pak Acqua RO Mineral Water in Sahiwal, Sky Rain in Faisalabad, and Iced Well in Sialkot. They will remain closed until they implement rigorous corrective measures, improving water quality and documenting filter replacements. PFA Director General Asim Javed said the authority will not tolerate the production of “substandard bottled water.” The crackdown comes after a report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) which found that several bottled water brands were posing serious health risks to the public. Test results showed excessive levels of arsenic, sodium, potassium, and several microbiological contaminants. According to researchers, these irregular levels could provoke multiple health conditions, from cholera to kidney disease and cancer.
Under existing Pakistani laws, companies that do not meet safety standards receive three warnings before being forced to halt production. The government has tasked PCRWR to conduct regular monitoring of bottled water brands and send reports of potential violations to provincial authorities for enforcement actions.
