ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has moved to accelerate regulatory and scientific measures to curb lead exposure, with the Ministry of Science and Technology announcing plans for a dedicated lead-testing infrastructure and stronger product safety standards following high-level talks with a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) delegation.
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Nawabzada Khalid Hussain Magsi, accompanied by Federal Secretary Shahid Iqbal Baloch, held a meeting with a delegation led by Abdullah A. Fodil, Director of the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future (PLF), UNICEF.
The meeting focused on the “critical public health challenges posed by lead exposure,” particularly its impact on maternal health, childhood development and the long-term well-being of citizens.
The discussions centred on Pakistan’s national priorities to address lead contamination, with participants stressing the need for preventive strategies and “robust regulatory interventions” to tackle the issue effectively, the statement said.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was the establishment of a Lead-Free Testing Laboratory at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in Karachi, with regional extensions planned in Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar.
The proposed facilities would support research and development aimed at identifying lead prevalence and devising control and mitigation strategies across sectors, according to the official statement.
The ministry said the meeting also underscored the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks under the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), particularly regarding permissible lead content in oil-based paints, cosmetics, including antimony surma, food items and other consumer products.
Participants also called for improved monitoring of industrial practices to ensure compliance with national safety standards.
Highlighting the importance of public engagement, the meeting emphasized national conferences, policy dialogues and awareness campaigns as essential tools in addressing the health and environmental risks linked to lead exposure.
In this regard, the federal minister assured that the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) would launch a “comprehensive series of awareness seminars” to educate the public on the environmental and health hazards of lead exposure.
The minister and the federal secretary reaffirmed that the collaboration represented “a significant step toward achieving a healthier, safer, and lead-free future for the children of Pakistan,” the statement added.
