Peshawar – In a sweeping campaign across the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority declared 40% of bottled water samples substandard and hazardous. The KPK bottled water testing drive marks the first province-wide initiative following the operationalization of the Provincial Food Testing Laboratory and Centre for Research.
Officials tested 156 bottled water samples, including 19-litre, 1.5-litre, 500ml, and 300ml sizes. According to the report, 59.61% met Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) benchmarks. However, 40.39% failed to meet safety standards. Dangerous microbial contamination appeared in 61 samples, including Coliform, Fecal Coliform, E.Coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, two samples contained harmful chemical components, posing serious health risks.
Director General Wasif Saeed briefed Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru on the findings. He also reported that officials examined 56 water source samples and found 29 substandard. The province’s 143 active water plants produce an estimated 419,000 litres daily. Alarmingly, inspectors identified 117,543 litres as unfit for consumption.
As part of the KPK bottled water testing campaign, the Food Authority imposed heavy fines on violators. Officials issued recall directives to seize and discard unsafe stock. Additionally, they halted production from non-compliant industries until manufacturers implemented corrective measures and passed retesting.
In Phase 2, the campaign will expand to include water filtration plants and residential water sources used for public consumption. This broader scope aims to ensure safe drinking water across urban and rural areas.
Speaking at the briefing, Minister Zahir Shah emphasized that the province had never before launched such large-scale testing. On the directives of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, the authority initiated testing drives across the food supply chain. He stated, “We will eliminate substandard and hazardous food items. By ensuring safe food, we will ultimately empty the hospitals.”
He added that the government remains committed to supporting legitimate businesses. A robust testing regime will offer technical assistance to help industries meet national and international standards. The KPK bottled water testing campaign reflects a decisive shift toward public health protection and food safety enforcement. Authorities vow continued action to root out adulteration and restore consumer confidence.
