LAHORE, Sept 24: Manufacturers of potable mineral water have urged the government to give more powers to the Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to make it effective. They expressed these views during their meeting with PSQCA Director-General Abdul Ghaffar Soomro here on Saturday.

The meeting was called to get manufacturers’ viewpoint and suggestions to check the manufacture, sale and purchase of sub-standard drinking water.

While dilating upon the subject, registered manufacturers called for formulating an effective mechanism to check the sub-standard water business, besides setting up a regulatory body.

They said that PSQCA should enhance its biological and chemical test laboratories and train its existing staff and induct more water experts.

They also demanded a quality check on other public departments supplying drinking water to people.

The DG said that the Pakistan Council for Water Research (PCWR) and Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) had been authorized to test the water but they could not issue quality licences.

The DG said that now all the water manufacturers were bound to ensure quarterly water analysis, as the PSQCA would have to report to the cabinet in this regard.

Soomro said that each manufacturer should advertise his brand with stress on the quality and affiliation with the PSQCA.—APP