No one will die of thirst if mineral water companies are shut down: CJP

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, has directed mineral water companies to improve their water extraction mechanism within the parameters of law or their operations will be ordered to shut down, ARY News reported on Monday.

“No one will die of thirst if mineral water companies are closed,” said the chief justice.

Hearing a suo motu case regarding ground water exploitation by mineral water companies at the apex court, he said that only two water companies were providing clean drinking water, while the rest were not ensuring hygiene standards.

The CJP resented that water from the River Indus was being used and sold by the mineral water companies.

He said the companies would have to pay charges for extracting ground water, at all costs.

He warned the companies to fix their system within a week or their firms would be ordered to close operations. “We will not let anyone pilfer this precious resource of water,” the CJP added.

Lawyer representing the mineral water companies sought some time from the court to fix shortcomings in their system.

A government representative informed the court that companies were using 27bn liter water per month.

In the last hearing on Nov 20, the Supreme Court had ordered bottled water companies to fix their shortcomings within 10 days. The CJP had summoned owners of 11 mineral water manufacturing companies during the hearing.

Justice Nisar had taken up a suo motu case pertaining to selling of bottled water by extracting groundwater without paying any charges and if it is fit for human consumption.