27 bottled water brands declared unsafe after tests in 20 Pakistani cities 

Bacteria and harmful chemicals have been found in 27 bottled water brands sold in Pakistan, raising serious concerns

Islamabad: Bacteria and harmful chemicals have been found in 27 bottled water brands sold in Pakistan, raising serious concerns about the safety of drinking water being supplied to consumers. Tests by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) found that 22 brands were contaminated with bacteria, while several others contained chemical levels above the national safety limits.

The PCRWR collected 223 samples of commercially available bottled and mineral water from 20 major cities during July to September 2026. The test results were compared with drinking water standards set by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

According to the PCRWR, 27 brands were unsafe for human consumption because of microbiological or chemical contamination. The findings were released as part of the government’s quarterly monitoring programme, which aims to inform the public about the quality of bottled water available in the market.

The presence of arsenic in two brands is among the major concerns. Akwafine Bottled Drinking Water and Premium Safa Purified Water were found to contain arsenic levels ranging from 13.5 to 23.2 parts per billion, against the permitted limit of 10 parts per billion.

Arsenic is a harmful chemical, and its presence above the permitted level makes the water unsafe under the applicable standards.

The report also found excessive sodium in three brands: Aab e Haram, AB Blue Water and HR Water Healthy Life. Their sodium levels ranged from 94 to 164 parts per million, while the permitted limit is 50 parts per million.

Aab e Haram failed on more than one quality measure. Apart from excessive sodium, it contained total dissolved solids (TDS) at 680 parts per million, exceeding the permitted limit of 500 parts per million. The brand was also among the 22 found contaminated with bacteria.

Fresh Smart Pure Water was declared unsafe because its potassium level was 20 parts per million, twice the permitted limit of 10 parts per million.

The PCRWR also identified 22 brands with bacterial contamination, making them unsafe for drinking. These brands are Aab e Haram, Douro, Aab e Makuran, Water Verse Purified, Jel Bottled Drinking Water, Sip Bottled Drinking Water, Safi Bottled Drinking Water, Pure Aqua Tech Bottled Drinking Water, Aqua Grain Bottled Drinking Water, Water Time Bottled Drinking Water, Al Saha Drinking Water, Aab e Hayat, K&S Aqua Sea, JERS Safe Life, Athar Premium, Aqua Dor, HHG Sweets and Bakers, Drinkly, One Flow Bottled Drinking Water, Zalmi Pure Mineral Water, New A2Z Bottled Water and Aqua Indus.

The findings raise questions about the quality checks followed by bottled water companies and the effectiveness of monitoring in a market where consumers pay for what they expect to be safe drinking water.

The government has directed the PCRWR to monitor commercially available bottled and mineral water brands every three months and make the results public to help people make informed choices.

The findings were issued under Dr Hifza Rasheed, Director General of the PCRWR.