LUMS Faculty Delegation Visits PAFDA to Explore Scientific Collaboration in Public Health, Drug Testing, and Water Safety

Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA) welcomed a delegation of distinguished faculty members from LUMS, including Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Dr. Zaigham Shahzad, and Dr. Amir Faisal from the Department of Life Sciences, along with Dr. Tauqeer Abbas from the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, for a visit to its laboratories. The delegation was received by the Director General and senior management of PAFDA, who provided a comprehensive briefing on the Authority's state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced analytical capabilities, and its role in safeguarding public health through science-based regulation, testing, and quality assurance. The visitors were given an overview of PAFDA's multidisciplinary laboratory facilities and ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory science in Punjab.

The visit also served as a platform to explore future collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including drug testing, biologics and vaccine testing, food and agricultural supply chain safety, and data-driven scientific research. Discussions focused on potential cooperation in water quality monitoring and testing, including advanced analysis of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other potentially carcinogenic contaminants in water. Both institutions expressed interest in formalizing collaboration through a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing research, environmental monitoring, water safety, and evidence-based decision-making to support improved public health outcomes and scientific innovation in Pakistan.