SC orders forensic audit of samples from mineral water companies

LAHORE (92 News) – Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Sunday ordered a forensic audit of samples from mineral water companies within 15 days. A two-member bench of the Supreme Court Registry in Lahore headed by the chief justice heard a suo moto notice of the sale of drinking water by mineral waters companies. During the hearing, the CJP remarked that a litre of water is sold for Rs50 but only one-eighth of this price is given to the government. He added that these companies have been earning only profit for 20 years. Justice Ijazaul Hassan said that now time has come to give back the money to the country. The top judge took the notice of large housing societies using water free of cost. “Those societies that obtain water through tube wells yet charge residents and do not pay a single penny to the government will be held accountable,” CJ Nisar said, adding that the court will hear a case pertaining to the same in the next week. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan said that companies selling water are paying the lowest price to obtain the natural resource. The court ordered to forensic audit and chemical examination of sample of water from mineral water companies. The court, earlier, had rejected a petition by the mineral water companies to allow a month's time for audit.