Unsafe water sellers face PMA call for penal action

The association warned that poor water quality is contributing to widespread waterborne diseases across Pakistan.

PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said millions of people are being forced to use unsafe water because of weak public supply systems. He said a recent PCRWR monitoring report found 29 bottled water brands unsafe for human consumption due to microbiological or chemical contamination.

PMA questions regulatory failures

The PMA questioned how contaminated water suppliers were registered and allowed to continue operating. It also asked why companies selling unsafe water were not being held responsible under penal laws.

“In developed nations, the state assumes full responsibility for delivering clean, drinkable tap water directly to households, eliminating the need for bottled water altogether. Unfortunately, in a developing country like Pakistan, citizens are forced to buy expensive bottled water, only to find that many of these commercial brands are also sub-standard and unsafe”, Dr Shoro said.

Association seeks strict legal action

The PMA said access to clean and purified drinking water should be treated as a basic constitutional right. “Immediate legal action, heavy fines, and criminal prosecution must be initiated against companies and individuals distributing contaminated or unregistered drinking water”, it added.

The association also called for stronger action against businesses that fail to meet safety standards. It said unsafe water should not be allowed to become a continuing threat to public health.

Better water system urged

“Government authorities must upgrade public water filtration plants and municipal pipe networks to ensure safe tap water for every household. Regulatory bodies, including the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), must enforce continuous, transparent inspection protocols on all water filtration units and commercial suppliers,” it stated.

The PMA urged federal and provincial governments to focus on water purification and sanitation facilities. It said better infrastructure could help prevent diseases and reduce pressure on the healthcare system.

The PMA’s concerns highlight a basic problem: people need reliable access to safe drinking water. If bottled water is also found unsafe, consumers have fewer safe choices.

Stronger inspections and penalties could improve accountability among water suppliers. Better public water systems would also reduce people’s dependence on costly bottled water.

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Also read: PCRWR declares 201 bottled water brands safe, 29 fail quality tests