The Government of Pakistan has instructed the Pakistan Water Resources Research Council (PCRWR) to monitor bottled water and bottled water brands on a quarterly basis and publish the results to raise public health awareness.
For the October-December quarter of 2022, samples of 168 mineral/bottled water brands from 22 cities were collected.
Comparing test results to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) quality standards for bottled water, 20 brands are unsafe for human consumption due to microbial, chemical, or both contamination.
Twelve brands were deemed unsafe due to their high sodium content, including Best Natural, Excellent Natural, Klear, Pinar, Neno, Ice Drop, Premium Safa, Orwell, Indus, Minwa Kashaf, Barsay and Nayab Pure Life.Two brands, “Excellent Natural” and “Aqua One” were deemed unsafe due to the presence of unacceptably high levels of potassium. Nayab Pure Life has an unacceptably high TDS than permissible limit,that is why it is determined to be unsafe. PCRWR has added eight more brands, including Alpha Premium, Isberg, Aqua Pak, Ship Up, Ever Pure, Noble, Neno and Asha,they have also been declared unfit to drink because they were found to be microbiologically contaminated so it is not healthy for drinking purpose.
PCRWR alerted the public and encouraged them to look at detailed reports and learn about the water quality status of the bottled water brands they consume.
