ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Saqib Nisar has ordered chemical examination of water samples taken from mineral water companies.
A Supreme Court two-judge bench chaired by CJP Saqib Nisar issued these orders while hearing a suo motu notice regarding the sale of drinking water.
The bench also rejected the request of the companies to prepare their audit report in one month and instructed them to submit their forensic audit report in 15 days.
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The CJP in his remarks said that water is very precious for us. Mineral water companies for the last 20 years are acquiring water free of cost and have made billion of rupees profit after installing turbines, yet they paid nearly nothing to the government.
Saqib Nisar said that all the mineral water companies will pay a reasonable price to the government for using the water and will sell the mineral water to the consumer at a reasonable price.
The CJP said that these companies are selling one liter water for Rs 50 and only paying one-eight of the price to the government. An international mineral water company earned Rs 6 million in profit in just one year, he said adding that anyone who is using natural water resources needs to pay tax to the government.