ISLAMABAD - Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Lal Chand on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan was committed to ensure promotion and protection of women rights as envisaged under the constitution as well as international commitments by adopting all possible measures.

In response to a question during question hour, he said a project titled “Human Rights Program” with special focus on rights of women and children had been launched to protect rights of the women and children. He said Family Protection and Rehabilitation Centres were also working in the Capital Territory to provide services including shelter and legal support to women victims of violence.

He said a gender protection unit had also been established in the Federal Capital with the helpline 8090 to rescue the victims of gender-based violence.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that the government has cancelled licenses of 44 bottled drinking water companies during last year due to substandard quality.

Replying to a question during Question Hour, he said Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has mandate to monitor the quality of Bottled Drinking Water. 

Licences of 44 bottled drinking water companies cancel

PSQCA performed conformity assessment activities in the light of PSQCA Act VI of 1996 and as per Pakistan Conformity Assessment Rules 2011, he added. 

The Minister said PSQCA awarded license after ascertaining quality of the product which included on site assessment, lab testing and conformance with the Pakistan Standard Specification. There were total 136 brands of bottled drinking water that were registered with Punjab Zone and 140 brands with Karachi zone, 154 brands with Islamabad zone and 67 brands were registered with KPK Zone.

PSQCA ensured quality of the product through surveillance of units and testing of product, he said. He said as per recent inspections conducted in year 2021 total 09 brands were found substandard in Punjab zone, 13 in Karachi zone, 04 in Islamabad zone and 04 in KPK zone. 

Commercial production was halted due to non-conformance and after taking corrective and preventive action, samples were taken and sent to lab to ascertain quality of the product and were found conforming in their test report, he said. 

He said in the year 2020-2021, total 20 units were seized due to substandard quality under jurisdiction of Punjab Zone, 12 units at Karachi, 10 at Islamabad Zone and 01 at KPK. Meanwhile to another question, he said the government was ready to provide funds to set up model courts in the country to dispense speedy justice.