ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has designated six laboratories of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) to test bottled drinking water for impurities.

According to a notification issued here, the authority took the step under Section 8 of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act (VI of 1996),

The designated laboratories are functioning at the council’s offices at Islamabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Tandojam, Quetta and Peshawar.

Under another gazette notification, PSQCA Director-General Abdul Ghaffar Soomro has delegated the powers of inspectors to PCRWR chairman, director water quality Islamabad and regional directors.

These steps have been taken on the advice of Ministry of Science and Technology Secretary Kh Zaheer Ahmad.

This joint venture is likely to pave the way for providing quality drinking water to consumers. The PSQCA is mandated to keep quality control on national products, while the PCRWR is working as a principal research organization having fully- equipped laboratories to check water quality.

The two national organizations have joined hands with a view to maintaining proper and regular check on the quality of bottled water.