Pakistan upgrades agricultural testing labs in Karachi

New facilities will improve detection of plant pests and diseases, pesticide quality testing and compliance with international food safety and phytosanitary standards KARACHI: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain inaugurated two upgraded agricultural testing laboratories in Karachi on Friday, aimed at improving plant disease detection, pesticide quality control and compliance with international standards for agricultural trade. The facilities include the Central Plant Quarantine Laboratory and the Federal Pesticides Testing and Reference Laboratory (FPTRL), which will support the identification of agricultural pests and diseases, assessment of pesticide formulations and enforcement of food safety and plant protection regulations. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the minister said strengthening scientific testing infrastructure was necessary to protect domestic agricultural production while improving access to international markets for Pakistani agricultural products. He said the Central Plant Quarantine Laboratory would improve the country's ability to identify harmful pests and plant diseases associated with imported agricultural commodities, helping prevent invasive species from entering Pakistan and affecting domestic crops. The upgraded facility will also support compliance with international phytosanitary requirements, which govern measures intended to prevent the spread of pests and diseases through agricultural trade. The Federal Pesticides Testing and Reference Laboratory, meanwhile, will strengthen the assessment of pesticide formulations, verification of active ingredients and identification of substandard agricultural chemicals. Its improved pesticide residue testing capabilities are expected to support food safety requirements, regulatory enforcement and compliance with standards applicable to agricultural exports. The minister said reliable laboratory findings were essential for regulatory decisions and the enforcement of agricultural quality standards, particularly as international markets increasingly required compliance with food safety and plant health regulations. He emphasised the need for modern analytical equipment, qualified scientific personnel, standardised testing procedures and internationally recognised quality management practices to ensure the credibility of laboratory results. Hussain said the government's agricultural priorities extended beyond increasing crop production to protecting agricultural output from pests and diseases, ensuring the quality of farming inputs and improving the international competitiveness of Pakistani products. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the University of Karachi, the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, senior officials of the Department of Plant Protection, scientists and technical experts.