IT was shocking to realise that a well-known brand of drinking water, which markets coffee, fruit juice and what have you, increased the price of its 18.9 litre bottles from Rs220 to Rs250 in one go.

Had the company raised the selling price of coffee, one would not have felt the pinch because coffee is imported, but the increase in the rate of dollars vis-à-vis Pakistani rupees does not affect water, which is a hundred per cent local product. The move is inexplicable. Thank goodness, other reputed brands have so far not followed suit.

Some time back a member of the judiciary had announced that the price of drinking water would be reduced but the contrary has happened.

By the way, the company’s delivery staff laments that there has been no increase in their wages.

Asif Noorani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2019