QUETTA: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) on Monday sealed multiple water plants across Quetta in a crackdown on facilities found to be operating illegally, supplying substandard and unregistered bottled water.

According to BFA officials, three plants were sealed during operations on Old Sabzal Road, the Western Bypass, and in Jabal Noor.

Serious violations included poor hygiene, the presence of rodent waste, a lack of registration, and incorrect labeling. Samples of bottled water were collected from the sites and sent to laboratories for testing.

In further actions, authorities sealed three additional plants in Nawakili, Killi Shabo, and Chashma Achuzai. Inspectors there allegedly found algae in storage tanks, tampered expiry dates, and a lack of basic safety measures.

On Sirki Road, an inspection of six RO plants resulted in one unit being sealed and another fined. Four more plants were sealed in the Double Road and Satellite Town areas for violations of food safety regulations.

Several samples were also collected for laboratory analysis.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026