CJP expresses displeasure in mineral water case

CJP ordered legislation for extracting underground water

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday warned that the plants of mineral water companies may be shut down if they fail to pay Rs1 per litre for water extracted from the ground.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing the mineral water suo-moto case.

"Stop consuming water of companies that dried up our land and didn't even pay us for extracting water," he said.



The court also disallowed water companies to pay the government one paisa per litre to extract water they sell for Rs92 per litre.

The chief justice also expressed dismay over how water companies sold a billion gallons of water and earned billions but paid a minimal extraction expense to the government.

"They sell water extracted from our land to us only," said CJP Nisar. "Water companies have dried up Lahore and Sheikhupura."

Justice Nisar also shed light on how service stations are using sweet water to wash cars. "400 litres of water is used for washing a single car," the additional attorney general confirmed.

Later during the hearing, water and cola companies expressed their readiness to pay for extraction. "We will pay the amount suggested by the court," confirmed counsel Aitzaz Ahsan representing a mineral water company.



However, a Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) lawyer contended that no law exists to determine if money has be to be paid for extracting water from the ground.

Upon hearing this, Justice Nisar directed authorities to legislate regarding this matter and present a report within a week.

The court also ordered to utilise the money received from water companies to enhance water resources of the country.