Islamabad: Science and technology minister Khalid Hussain Magsi on Friday met a high-level UNICEF delegation led by director of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future (PLF) Abdullah A. Fodil to deliberate on urgent measures against lead exposure in Pakistan.
The minister was also accompanied by secretary Shahid Iqbal Baloch. The meeting focused on the serious public health challenges posed by lead contamination, with participants expressing concern over its harmful effects on maternal health, childhood development and the long-term well-being of citizens.
National priorities, preventive strategies and the need for strong regulatory interventions were thoroughly discussed. Among the key proposals was the establishment of a lead-free testing laboratory at PCSIR Karachi, with regional extensions in Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar to support research on lead prevalence, control and mitigation.
The meeting also stressed the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks under the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, particularly regarding permissible lead content in oil-based paints, cosmetics including antimony surma, food items, and other lead-containing products, alongside improved monitoring of industrial practices.
The importance of national conferences, policy dialogues, and public awareness campaigns was also highlighted. The minister said the Pakistan Science Foundation will launch a comprehensive series of awareness seminars on the environmental and health hazards of lead exposure.
Both the federal minister and federal secretary reaffirmed that this collaboration marks a significant step toward building a healthier, safer, and lead-free future for the children of Pakistan.
