29 Bottled Water Brands Found Substandard in Pakistan Quality Test
ISLAMABAD:A quarterly quality analysis of bottled drinking water brands has found 29 out of 230 brands to be substandard and unfit for consumption.
On the directives of the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) monitors the quality of commercially available bottled water on a quarterly basis.
For the April-June 2026 quarter, samples of 230 bottled and mineral water brands were collected from 20 cities across the country and analyzed in laboratories according to standards recommended by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
The laboratory analysis found that some samples were contaminated with harmful bacteria and posed health risks to consumers. Overall, 29 of the 230 brands tested were declared substandard for drinking.
The analysis also found excessive levels of sodium in samples from nine brands, while four brands had total dissolved solids (TDS) above the permissible limit.
According to PCRWR, samples from 22 brands were found to be microbiologically contaminated and considered unsafe for drinking.
Meanwhile, spokespersons for some of the companies disputed the findings, claiming that their bottled water brands met quality standards. They said they would approach the government and request that the record be corrected.
