People are being made to drink contaminated water in Punjab: CJP Nisar

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Saturday expressed annoyance over failure of the Punjab government to provide potable water to the people of the province.

Headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench was hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the supply of contaminated drinking water in the province.

The chief justice asked the Punjab chief secretary to explain where hefty amount earmarked for provision of potable water was being spent.

According to a report submitted by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), water samples collected from the chief justice’s chamber were found to be contaminated.

CJP Nisar said it would take him just a suo motu notice to stop the Punjab government’s Orange Line Metro Train project, if it didn’t improve healthcare and educational facilities.

If Sindh Chief Minister could be summoned to the court, why can’t be Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to respond to the court’s queries, he asked.

During the hearing, CJP asked the chief secretary to explain as to how many new medical facilities were established in the past ten years and why the provincial government has not set its priorities?

The people were being made to drink water contaminated with arsenic and other poisonous chemicals, he observed.