ISLAMABAD: A recent study has uncovered alarming findings about bottled mineral water in Pakistan. Out of 176 samples collected from 20 cities, 27 brands were deemed unsafe for human consumption due to excessive levels of sodium, arsenic, potassium, and bacterial contamination.
The contaminated brands pose a serious risk to health, including, but not limited to, cancer, kidney and heart diseases, hypertension, gastro–intestinal infections, and disorders of the nervous system.
This was determined by PCRWR (Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources), which identified 9 brands with extremely high levels of sodium including Miran Drinking Water and Pure Water among them.
Five other brands had extremely high levels of arsenic which include One Pure Drinking Water and Indus among them. The other contaminant that had extremely high levels of potassium was Hunza Utter Water.
Additionally, 16 brands had high levels of bacteria including SS Water and Aqua Health among them. PCRWR Director Dr. Hifza Rasheed added that the oranization only checks the water quarterly and sends reports of its findings to the appropriate departments.
The Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) provides the license and it is the body in charge of any actions taken legally in case of any brand selling below standard water.
Ashraf Player, the director of licensing at the PSQCA, added that thorough scrutiny and third-party verification take place before a license is issued. However, he acknowledged that in Pakistan, the hardest part of the operation monitoring was the absence of sufficient staff.
It would, however, call for a study stressing the imperative need for stricter laws and improved monitoring for Pakistan, so that the safety of mineral water products is ensured in its route to the end consumer. People should realize the hazards that some brands carry with them, and thus take only precautions that will be good for their health.