CJ warns to close mineral water companies if water quality not fix in 7 days

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday to shut down mineral water companies if they would not fix the water quality within 7 days. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Faisal Arbab was dismayed at the report submitted by the water commission in the mineral water suo motu case. During the hearing, the top judge remarked that the judicial commission’s report was inconclusive, adding that mineral water companies should have mercy on consumers. The CJ Nisar directed mineral water companies to pay the price of ground water and fix the quality of their water by next Monday, warning them that the companies would otherwise be shut down. Justice Nisar said if the companies did not improve their system, the SC will have no choice but to shut them down. “Nobody will die of thirst if mineral water companies are shut,” he noted. “This issue is directly linked with lives of the people. We will initiate stern action if court’s orders are not complied with”, said CJP. “The commission report states that the companies lack water testing system,” observed Justice Ahsan. While Justice Nisar remarked that plain water was being marketed as mineral water. The chief justice noted that if the mineral water companies were taxed Re1 per litre, the compensation amount will near Rs700 billion. “We can build the dams with the money,” he observed. The top court has called for a meeting with mineral water companies later in the day to hear their grievances and deliberate on tax and other matters. On November 20, the SC had directed a judicial commission to inspect companies that sell bottled water locally, and directed all such companies to rectify their errors within 10 days.