Pakistan Medical Association demands unsafe water sellers be tried under penal laws

Islamabad - The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has voiced grave concerns over the declining standard of drinking water nationwide, which continues to fuel a surge in waterborne illnesses. Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the PMA Secretary General, lamented that millions of citizens are being compelled to ingest unsafe water due to the country's inadequate municipal water supply system.

The recent government monitoring report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) disclosed that 29 bottled water brands were found to be unsafe due to microbial or chemical contamination.

The association is questioning the accountability of entities responsible for registering, supervising, and permitting these contaminated water suppliers to operate. They are also wondering why those selling unsafe water have not been held liable under penal laws. Shoro pointed out that in advanced countries, the state ensures safe, potable tap water directly to households, thereby eliminating the need for bottled water.

However, in Pakistan, citizens are compelled to purchase expensive bottled water, only to discover that many commercial brands are substandard and unsafe.

The PMA has called for clean, purified drinking water to be acknowledged as a fundamental constitutional right and the government's responsibility. They are demanding immediate legal action, hefty fines, and criminal prosecution against companies and individuals distributing contaminated or unregistered drinking water. They also urge the government to enhance public water filtration plants and municipal pipe networks to guarantee safe tap water for every household.

Furthermore, regulatory bodies like the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) must enforce rigorous, transparent inspection protocols on all water filtration units and commercial suppliers, they stated.

The PMA appealed to the federal and provincial governments to prioritize water purification and sanitation infrastructure to safeguard citizens from preventable diseases and alleviate the overwhelming strain on the healthcare system.