PM hails setting up of PAFDA

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated the Punjab government on the inauguration of the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA), terming it a landmark institution for ensuring food security and hygienic standards across the country.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the prime minister praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for transforming a long-neglected and incomplete building into a modern, IT-led and AI-enabled laboratory.

He said the project, which had remained idle for years, now stands as a symbol of progress and good governance. "Full marks to Maryam Nawaz Sharif for converting an idling building into a great institution," he remarked.

He also commended the efforts of scientists, experts and professionals who worked tirelessly to complete what he described as a unique project in Pakistan.

According to the prime minister, the PAFDA will play a vital role in ensuring food safety, quality control, and public health, calling it a need of the hour.

Recalling the establishment of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in 2009, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted how the absence of a credible forensic system had once allowed criminals to escape justice.

He paid rich tribute to late Dr Ashraf Tahir, who left a successful career in the United States to serve Pakistan, and acknowledged the role of former provincial officer Naseem Sadiq and other officials in setting up the forensic lab.