Ms. Harriet Roos, Counsellor (Development) and Head of Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada to Pakistan, visited the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) today. During the visit, she met with the Director General of PAFDA, Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, along with the authority’s senior management. A comprehensive presentation was delivered to brief the visiting delegation on PAFDA’s scope, mandate, and vision for ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory excellence across agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals.

Ms. Roos appreciated PAFDA’s initiatives and expressed keen interest in the authority’s progressive approach toward strengthening quality assurance systems. The visit also included a detailed tour of PAFDA’s state-of-the-art laboratories, where the delegation was briefed on the authority’s technical capabilities, modern processes, and scientific infrastructure. The engagement concluded on a positive note, marking a fruitful interaction and reinforcing opportunities for future collaboration between PAFDA and development partners.

Prof. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, Director General of the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA), attended the closing ceremony of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion & Design (PIFD) Thesis Display 2026 as Chief Guest at its Lahore campus. The exhibition showcased the work of 355 graduating students across multiple disciplines, reflecting the creativity, innovation, and academic excellence fostered through design education.

PAFDA appreciates platforms that nurture young talent, promote creative thinking, and encourage future-focused innovation across diverse sectors. The event concluded on a high note, celebrating the achievements of emerging designers and their contributions to Pakistan’s creative industry. Prof. Dr. Pasha’s participation reflected PAFDA’s continued support for innovation, institutional engagement, and the development of skilled professionals contributing to national progress.

Chairman NAFSA, Mr. Ahmad Umair, visited the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) and held a meeting with Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, Director General PAFDA, along with the senior management of the Authority. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore potential areas of collaboration in strengthening regulatory frameworks, food safety systems, and institutional coordination.

During the interaction, both sides expressed a shared commitment to promoting quality standards, enhancing cooperation, and addressing emerging challenges through collective efforts. The visit concluded on a positive note, reflecting a strong commitment towards continued engagement and collaboration between PAFDA and NAFSA for advancing food safety, regulatory excellence, and public health protection.

The Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) successfully concluded a five-day capacity-building training program for officials of the AJK Food Authority. Conducted by PAFDA’s Food Testing Team, the program provided participants with technical exposure to key areas including food safety standards, laboratory testing techniques, quality assurance systems, and regulatory frameworks. The training was complemented by extensive hands-on sessions in PAFDA’s state-of-the-art laboratories, enabling participants to gain practical understanding of modern food testing procedures and scientific quality control practices.

The program enhanced the participants’ technical and regulatory knowledge while strengthening their capacity to plan, establish, and operate modern food testing laboratory systems in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The training concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony, marking another important milestone in professional development, institutional capacity building, and inter-agency collaboration. PAFDA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting scientific excellence, regulatory strengthening, and knowledge exchange with partner institutions for improved food safety systems.

A delegation from the Punjab Dairy Farmers’ Association, led by President Muhammad Khan Babar Bhatti, along with his team, visited the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) for a collaborative engagement on dairy sector reforms. The delegation met with COO PAFDA, M. Arshad Farooq Bajwa, and Dr. Muhammad Nasir, Member Food, along with senior scientists and technical managers. During the meeting, Dr. Nasir briefed the participants on PAFDA’s role and ongoing initiatives to support dairy sector improvement, with particular focus on milk quality standards, scientific testing, and the importance of compliant packaging in accordance with Pakistan Standards.

Both sides expressed a shared commitment to addressing key challenges related to contaminated milk and strengthening regulatory practices across the dairy value chain. The delegation was also given a detailed visit of PAFDA’s dairy laboratories, where they were briefed on the Authority’s advanced testing capabilities, scientific processes, and quality assurance systems. The visit concluded on a positive note, reflecting strong potential for continued collaboration between PAFDA and the dairy farming community towards ensuring safe, quality, and compliant dairy products for consumers.

Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, Director General of the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA), was honored at a prestigious ceremony organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to recognize the exceptional achievements of Pakistan’s leading researchers and scientists. Dr. Pasha was presented with a Certificate of Recognition in acknowledgment of his globally impactful research contributions, academic excellence, and lifelong commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. The ceremony brought together eminent academics, researchers, and thought leaders from across the country to celebrate scientific achievement and highlight the vital role of research and innovation in national development.

PAFDA takes immense pride in this distinguished recognition, which reflects Dr. Pasha’s remarkable contributions to science, education, and public service. His achievement further reinforces PAFDA’s commitment to fostering scientific excellence, promoting evidence-based practices, and strengthening research-driven regulatory systems across food, agriculture, and drug sectors. Under his leadership, PAFDA continues to advance its mission of elevating testing standards, supporting innovation, and contributing to a safer, healthier, and more scientifically empowered Pakistan.

A delegation from Superior University, led by Dr. Sami Ullah Bajwa, Director ORIC, along with his team, visited the Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) and held a meeting with Director General PAFDA, Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, and senior management. The visit provided a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue on strengthening collaboration between academia and PAFDA, particularly in the areas of scientific research, professional training, innovation, technical expertise, and institutional capacity building. During the interaction, the delegation was briefed on PAFDA’s advanced testing capabilities, multidisciplinary laboratory infrastructure, and its role in supporting science-based regulation across food, agriculture, and drug sectors.

Both sides expressed a shared interest in developing joint initiatives that can contribute to evidence-based solutions and address emerging challenges across relevant fields. Potential areas of cooperation discussed included collaborative research projects, technical workshops, knowledge exchange programmes, student and faculty engagement, and professional development opportunities for scientists and technical experts. The delegation appreciated PAFDA’s commitment to scientific excellence and public service, while PAFDA welcomed the opportunity to build stronger linkages with academic institutions. The visit concluded on a positive note, reflecting strong potential for future collaboration between PAFDA and Superior University.

A delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), led by Mr. Zaki Aijaz, Regional Chairman and Vice President FPCCI, visited the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) and held a meeting with Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, Director General PAFDA, along with senior officials of the Authority.

The delegation included Mr. Syed Ali Reza Rizvi, EC Member FPCCI; Mr. Tariq Mehmood, GB Member FPCCI; Mr. Sardar Mian Nadeem Barra, President Nankana Sahib Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Abdul Karim, Chairman APFDA; and other representatives of the business community.

During the meeting, participants discussed opportunities for collaboration between industry and regulatory institutions, with a focus on testing, certification, quality assurance, and export facilitation. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha briefed the delegation on PAFDA’s integrated testing capabilities across agriculture, food, and pharmaceutical sectors, highlighting the Authority’s role in strengthening regulatory compliance and supporting industry growth.

The delegation appreciated PAFDA’s state-of-the-art laboratories and scientific infrastructure and expressed interest in utilizing the Authority’s services for bioequivalence studies, packaging material testing, raw material analysis, textiles, and the testing of metallic and organic minerals.

The visit also included a tour of PAFDA’s laboratories, where delegates received an overview of testing systems, analytical capabilities, and future plans for international accreditation and service expansion.

The engagement concluded on a positive note, reflecting strong potential for future collaboration between PAFDA and the business community. Both sides emphasized the importance of scientific quality infrastructure in enhancing regulatory confidence, supporting exports, and promoting economic growth.

The Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) marked the successful completion of its Internal Auditor Training with a certificate distribution ceremony held at its headquarters. Director General PAFDA, Prof. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, distributed certificates among the participants and commended their dedication and commitment to professional development. The training initiative was designed to enhance the capacity of PAFDA personnel and strengthen the Authority’s internal quality assurance mechanisms.

The training, conducted earlier under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Irfan Ashiq, Member Research & Training, focused on developing competencies in internal auditing, laboratory quality management systems, and compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017. By investing in continuous learning and skill development, PAFDA remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of quality, accuracy, reliability, and international best practices across its laboratories, further strengthening its role as a science-driven regulatory institution.

PAFDA had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Bushra Mirza from Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, for a visit to its state-of-the-art facilities. During the visit, she was received by PAFDA’s leadership and provided with an overview of the Authority’s scientific mandate, advanced laboratory infrastructure, and its role in safeguarding public health through science-based regulation, testing, and quality assurance. Dr. Mirza also toured PAFDA’s laboratories, where she observed modern analytical technologies and testing processes across multiple regulatory domains.

The visit provided an opportunity for productive discussions on the importance of research, innovation, and scientific collaboration in addressing emerging challenges related to food safety, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and public health. Both sides emphasized the value of strengthening linkages between academia and regulatory institutions to promote evidence-based decision-making, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. PAFDA looks forward to continued engagement with academic partners in advancing scientific excellence and contributing to national development through research-driven solutions.