- Maryam Nawaz says PAFDA to set national and international standards, boosting exports and protecting consumers
- Says 42 machines worth Rs4.4b installed; 565 more to come, ensuring cutting-edge lab services
- Says women scientists’ hostel with 300-bed capacity to empower female workforce
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the newly inaugurated Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) is not merely a structure of steel and cement but a “game changer” poised to benefit not only Punjab but the entire country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister said the vision for PAFDA was first conceived by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during his tenure as Punjab Chief Minister, and “today that vision has taken a practical shape.”
آج میرا دل شکر سے بھرا ہوا ہے۔
ہم صرف شیشے اور سٹیل کی عمارت میں نہیں کھڑے ہیں، وزیراعظم صاحب،
ہم اس خواب کے اندر کھڑے ہیں جس نے بالآخر اپنی پہلی سانس لی ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/3HgXEygKt3— Danyal Shah 🇵🇰 (@DanyalShah_17) January 31, 2026
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz formally inaugurated PAFDA, described as South Asia’s first and most advanced Punjab Science Enclave, housing high-tech agriculture, food, and drug testing laboratories under a single roof. The ceremony also marked the launch of PAFDA’s laboratory operations, while the Prime Minister and Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a women scientists’ hostel.
The event was attended by diplomats from 20 countries, who were warmly welcomed by the Prime Minister and Chief Minister. In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended Maryam Nawaz for her exemplary performance, awarding her “full marks” and offering a symbolic salute.
پنجاب فرانزک سائنس ایجنسی 2011 میں قائم کی گئی۔ آج یہاں 142 جدید مشینیں فعال ہیں، جبکہ مزید 565 جلد آ رہی ہیں۔ پہلے صرف 8 اضلاع کور تھے، اب یہ نظام بڑھا کر 38 اضلاع تک پھیلا دیا گیا ہے، تاکہ جدید ٹیکنالوجی کے ذریعے انصاف کو مضبوط بنایا جا سکے۔@MaryamNSharif pic.twitter.com/5d4A4xtTvE
— Maryam Nawaz Updates (@MNS_Updates) January 31, 2026
Following the ceremony, the Prime Minister and Chief Minister toured various departments of PAFDA, inspecting agriculture, food, and drug testing laboratories and observing sampling and testing procedures.
PAFDA Director General Dr Talat Naseer Pasha briefed participants that the authority employs 232 scientists, most of them gold medallists, with women constituting 70 per cent of the workforce. Scientists from other provinces are also contributing to the facility.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally inaugurated the Punjab Agriculture, Food & Drug Authority (PAFDA).
Launch of PAFDA and its laboratory operations.Also laid the foundation stone of the Women Scientists’ Hostel… pic.twitter.com/qDtgovru2Y
— PMLN (@pmln_org) January 31, 2026
He said PAFDA will ensure quality standards for food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical products, including nutrient profiling, microbiological safety testing, and verification of ingredients. The authority will reduce reliance on foreign laboratories for certification and restore international confidence in “Made in Pakistan” products.
A high-tech drug testing laboratory has been established with technical assistance from England and Turkiye. The Punjab Science Enclave now offers comprehensive agriculture, food, and drug testing services under one roof.
♦: جدید ترین لیب بنانے کا مقصد انصاف اور معیار ہر دہلیز تک پہنچانا ہے۔ جب شہباز شریف کی وراثت کا کہا جاتا ہے تو میرے لئے میڈل ہے
♦: پی اے ایف ڈی اے کے 232 سائنسدانوں میں 100 سے زائد
گولڈ میڈلسٹ اور 28 پی ایچ ڈی ہیںپنجاب ایگریکلچر، فوڈ اینڈ ڈرگ اتھارٹی کی افتتاحی تقریب سے… pic.twitter.com/oG0a9OWAjJ
— PMLN (@pmln_org) January 31, 2026
So far, 42 high-tech machines worth Rs4.4 billion have been installed at PAFDA, with an additional 565 machines expected in the near future. Officials also said that under the Safe Punjab initiative, satellite crime scene units are being established in all 38 districts.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the laboratories were established to ensure justice and quality at every doorstep. “When Shehbaz Sharif’s legacy is mentioned, it is a matter of pride and a medal for me,” she remarked, adding that she had learned the values of hard work and merit from him.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that PAFDA will test cosmetics, orthopedic implants, soil fertility, fertilizer, food, drugs, and even animal feed. She said over 100 gold medallists and 28 PhD holders are part of the 232-strong scientific workforce, with technical collaborations from USAID, Switzerland-based GAIN, and New Zealand’s CABI.
Referring to exports, the Chief Minister noted that consignments are often rejected due to quality issues. PAFDA will set national and international standards, ensuring that only quality products reach both local consumers and international markets. She stressed that food or medicines unfit for export should not be used locally either.
Maryam Nawaz also announced the establishment of the first women scientists’ hostel, accommodating 300 women. She highlighted e-tendering, e-procurement, and e-business systems in Punjab, which have already provided faceless online approvals to over 23,000 businesspersons.
She further noted that drones are now dispatched ahead of police in emergencies, and drone-based digital monitoring has been deployed in firefighting operations. Women in distress no longer need to visit police stations, as officers operating under the 15 helpline respond directly.
The Chief Minister said artificial intelligence is being utilized in traffic management, child protection, and other sectors, with AI education set to become mandatory in all Punjab schools from April. Satellite crime scene units will ensure the protection of evidence, she added, describing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the architect of a modern Punjab and a modern Pakistan.
