PSQCA seals 222 bottled water brands

Companies operate without holding Pakistan Standard License

LAHORE: The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) sealed 222 bottled drinking water brands for selling substandard water and working illegally, without having Pakistan Standard License, during last 18 months. According to a report issued by PSQCA secretariat, as many as 753 water brands were identified in markets of the country and samples of many of companies failed, over which the PSQCA sealed some 222 brands on the spot. On special directions of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain, PSQCA formed a task force to eradicate fake and illegal brands from the market, which started inspection in July 2016 and found a large number of brands were illegal, working without having Pakistan Standard (PS) mark in the country. During market surveillance activities, it was observed that 222 brands of bottled drinking water brands (out of 753) were being operated illegally/without PSQCA License in the country and all were seized as per provisions of PSQCA Act1996 and Conformity Assessment Rules 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2018.