SC orders tax on mineral water companies on extracting groundwater.

ISLAMABAD -- Chief Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday ordered authorities to levy a tax of Re1 on bottled water companies for every litre they extract from underground water reserves.

Resuming hearing of a suo motu case pertaining to alleged exploitation of water resources by mineral water companies in the country, Justice Nisar ordered the federal and provincial governments to issue notifications regarding the order within two days.

Earlier today, the chief justice reprimanded mineral water companies for 'extracting billions of rupees' worth of groundwater' and not paying enough taxes on it.

He vowed the court would not allow the water resources to be polluted and depleted, 'even if the companies have to shut down'.

'This is no longer [only] about taxes, this [issue] has turned into a scandal,' the top judge addressed a representative from one of the mineral water companies.

'It should not be called 'mineral' water, it should be called 'bottled' water,' he remarked.

'Billions of rupees' worth of groundwater has been extracted [by these companies]. Who will account for this?' CJP Nisar questioned.

The top judge told the representative that the court would not allow for the nation's loss, even if it meant the mineral water companies had to shut down their industry.

'[We] will...