ISLAMABAD: The products of only one out of four international beverage brands available on the local market have been found to be in compliance with national and international standards of food quality, officials of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration told Dawn on Thursday.

Earlier this month, inspection teams led by Assistant Commissioner (City) Saad Bin Asad and accompanied by officials from the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) visited the manufacturing units of various local and foreign brands manufacturing bottled water and beverages.

The samples taken were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), whose report revealed that only one company’s products met the prescribed standards.

In the words of the NIH report: “many water and beverage samples taken from production facilities and the open market were found not meeting the laid standard criterion”.

Water and other carbonated beverages being produced by one international brand were approved as per national and international standards of food and quality, officials said, adding that the other companies were issued warnings.

Assistant Commissioner Asad told Dawn that the ICT administration had received a number of complaints, via its official Facebook page as well as WhatsApp, about substandard products being manufactured by local and international firms.

Out of the four international brands examined, only one brand of bottled water – Aquafina – and carbonated beverages – Pepsico – was declared approved as per international and national standards, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2017