BFA Intensifies Crackdown on Substandard Bottled Water, Seals 9 Illegal Plants in Quetta

Quetta: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its crackdown against the production and sale of substandard and unregistered bottled water, sealing nine illegal water plants during operations across various areas of Quetta.
Food safety teams conducted simultaneous inspections in multiple locations, including Sariab Road, Patel Road, Shawak Shah Road, Satellite Town, Nawan Killi, Chashma Achozai, Western Bypass, Hazara Town, and Alamdar Road.
During the operations, more than 18 units were inspected, out of which nine water plants were sealed for violating regulations. Authorities also collected water samples from several units for laboratory analysis.
Inspection findings revealed that many plants were operating without product registration or BFA licenses. In addition, bottles lacked proper manufacturing and expiry dates, and some units were illegally using labels of different brands.
Officials also identified multiple hygiene and safety violations, including algae and contaminants in water storage tanks, poor filtration systems, lack of pest control measures, absence of personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, and inadequate waste management practices.
In some facilities, basic hygiene standards were completely ignored during the water production and packaging process, posing a serious threat to public health.
A spokesperson for the BFA stated that the production of unsafe drinking water at illegal plants is a major risk to public health, and strict action is being taken under a zero-tolerance policy.
The authority has urged citizens to use only certified and registered bottled water and to report illegal units operating in residential areas so that timely action can be ensured.