LAHORE: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has said the establishment of the Punjab Agriculture, Food & Drug Authority (PAFDA) is the need of the hour to ensure transparent monitoring of agricultural products, food and medicines.
In a meeting with PAFDA Director-General Dr Tallat Nasir Pasha, FPCCI Regional Chairman and Vice President Zaki Aijaz said the authority has raised expectations within the business community, particularly in terms of access to world-class testing facilities at the local level. He said PAFDA has the potential to emerge as a centre of excellence in the region, promoting quality, transparency and trust.
Aijaz also appreciated the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for taking what he described as positive steps for industry and the business community. He said the primary objective of the meeting is to bridge the gap between industry and regulatory authorities, remove hurdles in testing and certification for exports, and streamline processes to promote the ease of doing business in Punjab.
Dr Pasha said PAFDA was a flagship provincial project with national-level significance. He added that under its roadmap, the authority aims to become a globally recognised body for conformance and compliance assessment by 2035, providing services in food, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, feed and cosmetics.
He said the initiative will help position Punjab as a leader in testing and certification infrastructure, enable greater global outreach and set a benchmark for quality and innovation in compliance systems.
