KARACHI: The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), working under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, has awarded the Certificate of Accreditation to the National Reference Laboratory for the Department of Plant Protection (NRL-DPP) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.
The accreditation formally recognizes the laboratory’s competence to carry out specific testing activities in accordance with international standards, covering key aspects such as technical competence, impartiality and integrity. The NRL-DPP was established under an earlier agreement signed between the Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFSR) and the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, ICCBS, University of Karachi.
The development was reviewed during a meeting held on Thursday at the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, chaired by Director ICCBS Prof. Dr. Muhammad Raza Shah, where participants were briefed on the significance of the accreditation and the standards framework on which it is based.
Congratulating the team, Prof. Raza Shah said the accreditation reflects the availability of strong technical expertise and robust quality assurance practices at the National Reference Laboratory. He noted that the laboratory, functioning as part of the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, has achieved an important milestone in its efforts to meet global benchmarks in food safety testing.
He said the NRL-DPP plays a vital national regulatory and scientific role in the field of plant protection and agricultural biosecurity, serving as Pakistan’s reference facility for pesticide analysis. The laboratory ensures the quality and safety of pesticides used in agricultural products meant for both import and export.
Emphasizing the relevance of accreditation for international trade, Prof. Raza Shah said global markets are critical for Pakistan’s agricultural sector, and PNAC accreditation helps ensure that test results and certificates issued by Pakistani laboratories are internationally recognized and accepted.
He further stated that ICCBS, University of Karachi, remains among the leading research institutions in the developing world, with a strong reputation for scientific research and training at the national and international levels.
