Unsafe Bottled Water in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Exposes Deadly Health Risks | Food Safety Report

Unsafe Bottled Water in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sparked alarm after shocking results from the province’s first large-scale bottled water testing campaign. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority revealed that nearly 40% of bottled water samples failed to meet safety standards and were declared unfit for human consumption.

Alarming Findings from the Testing Drive

In its first province-wide bottled water inspection, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority tested 156 bottled water samples of different sizes including 19-litre, 1.5-litre, 500ml, and 300ml bottles.

• 59.61% of samples met safety and quality benchmarks.
• 40.39% of samples were declared unfit for drinking according to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

Authority Director General Wasif Saeed presented the findings to Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru, confirming that the tests were conducted at the newly established Provincial Food Testing Laboratory and Research Centre.

Additionally, 56 water source samples were checked, out of which 29 failed safety standards.

Microbial and Chemical Contamination Detected

The Food Safety Authority’s report revealed serious health threats:

• 61 bottled water samples were contaminated with dangerous microbes.
• Contaminants detected included Coliform, Fecal Coliform, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Two bottled water samples contained hazardous chemical residues.

Officials warned that these pathogens could cause severe gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, typhoid, and kidney-related illnesses.

Scale of Production and Unsafe Quantities

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is home to 143 licensed water plants producing nearly 419,000 litres of bottled water daily.

However, the inspection revealed that over 117,000 litres of bottled water were unsafe during the testing period from August 23 to September 19.

This means thousands of households across the province may have been exposed to contaminated bottled water, raising urgent concerns about regulatory oversight and public safety.

Next Phase: Filtration Plants and Households

The Food Authority confirmed that its testing campaign will now extend to water filtration plants and household sources.

• Heavy fines have been imposed on companies selling substandard water.
• Stocks of unsafe bottled water have been recalled and destroyed.
• Plants found in violation have had their production suspended until corrective measures are taken.

This marks the first serious crackdown on bottled water quality in the province, sending a strong signal to producers to comply with national and international safety benchmarks.

Government’s Stance on Consumer Protection

During the briefing, Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru praised the initiative, calling it a landmark achievement in consumer rights protection.

He credited Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for directing large-scale food and beverage testing campaigns through the new provincial laboratory.

“We are committed to rooting out substandard and hazardous products from the market. By ensuring food safety, we will reduce the burden on hospitals and protect public health,” the minister said.

Toru also stressed that strict quality checks not only protect health but also support legitimate businesses in meeting global standards of bottled water production.

Public Health Risks of Unsafe Bottled Water

Unsafe Bottled Water in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa poses deadly health risks. Drinking contaminated water may lead to:

• Acute gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea and vomiting.
• Chronic kidney and liver damage from chemical exposure.
• Typhoid fever, dysentery, and cholera from bacterial infections.
• Reduced child growth and malnutrition due to recurrent illness.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe drinking water is responsible for nearly 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year worldwide (source).

The Way Forward: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water

The alarming findings highlight the urgent need for stringent monitoring and accountability in Pakistan’s bottled water industry.

Recommended Measures:

• Strengthen the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) inspection regime.
• Increase randomized checks on bottled water brands.
• Expand public awareness campaigns on safe water choices.
• Encourage consumers to verify whether bottled water carries an authentic PSQCA license number.

By adopting these steps, Pakistan can ensure that safe drinking water is not a privilege but a basic human right accessible to all.

Internal and External Links

• Internal: Pakistan’s Climate Vulnerability and Public Health Risks
• External: WHO Report on Drinking Water Safety

Final Thoughts

The discovery of Unsafe Bottled Water in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a wake-up call for authorities, businesses, and citizens. With 40% of bottled water deemed unfit for human consumption, this crisis demands urgent reforms, strict enforcement, and public vigilance.

Ensuring safe and clean drinking water is not only a matter of public health—it is a matter of human dignity and national responsibility.