Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Inaugurated

LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formally inaugurated the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) on Saturday. The facility, described as one of the most advanced science enclaves in South Asia, brings state-of-the-art laboratories for agriculture, food, and drug testing under a single integrated framework.

The inauguration also marked the commencement of PAFDA’s laboratory operations. On the occasion, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a dedicated hostel facility for women scientists working at the authority.

The ceremony was attended by diplomatic representatives from over 20 countries, reflecting international interest in Punjab’s expanding scientific and regulatory infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister appreciated the Chief Minister’s leadership and progress in strengthening public institutions. Following the ceremony, the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister toured various sections of PAFDA, reviewed operational arrangements, and inspected the agriculture, food, and drug testing laboratories. They were briefed on laboratory workflows and observed the sampling and testing procedures in practice.

Director General PAFDA, Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, informed the participants that the authority currently employs 232 scientists, the majority of whom are gold medalists. He highlighted that women constitute approximately 70 percent of the scientific workforce, with professionals from other provinces also contributing to PAFDA’s operations.

He stated that PAFDA is mandated to ensure quality standards for food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical products, with testing capabilities that include nutrient profiling, microbiological safety assessments, and ingredient verification.

Dr. Pasha further noted that the establishment of PAFDA would significantly reduce dependence on foreign laboratories for quality certification and contribute to restoring international confidence in products manufactured in Pakistan.

He added that a high-tech drug testing laboratory has been developed with technical collaboration from England and Türkiye. Currently, 42 advanced analytical machines valued at Rs4.4 billion have been installed, while an additional 565 machines are planned to be added in the near future.