Samples from companies’ mineral water to be examined: SC

LAHORE: On Sunday, Chief Justice Pakistan Saqib Nisar ordered chemical examination of samples taken from the water sold by mineral water companies in the country.

A Supreme Court two-judge bench while hearing the case of ground water exploitation by mineral water companies, directed country’s renowned companies for the chemical examination of their water samples.

The bench while rejecting the request of companies to prepare their audit report in one month duration, instructed them to submit their forensic audit in 15 days duration.

Chief Justice Nisar said the forensic audit report will determine the rate of water to be charged by the government to the water companies.

The Supreme Court further observed that these companies have been only earning

profits from past 20 years; after the conclusion of this case, all the mineral water companies will pay a reasonable price to the government for using the water and similarly the companies will sell the mineral water to the consumers at a modest price.

During last hearing of the case, the Chief Justice remarked, “Water is very precious for us. Mineral water companies are acquiring water free of cost after installing turbines and then selling it at exorbitant prices he remarked, adding that all possible measures will be taken to preserve water.”

On Friday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had taken a suo motu notice of the exploitation of ground water by mineral water companies.