Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia visited the Bahawalpur Drug Testing Laboratory on Tuesday to review its facilities, testing procedures, and operational performance. The visit was attended by Incharge Drug Testing Laboratory Dr Muhammad Asad Abrar and Director Health Services Dr Syed Tanveer Shah.
Detailed Briefing and Inspection
During the visit, the commissioner received a comprehensive briefing on the laboratory's facilities, modern drug testing procedures, advanced analytical equipment, quality assurance standards, and ongoing operations. He inspected various sections of the laboratory and assessed the workflow.
Directives for Improvement
Commissioner Kathia directed the concerned officials to make the drug testing process more efficient, transparent, and timely. He emphasized that the primary objective of establishing drug testing laboratories is to ensure that medicines meet international quality standards and to safeguard public health. The Bahawalpur Drug Testing Laboratory will play a vital role in ensuring the quality of medicines supplied to government hospitals, private hospitals, and other healthcare institutions across the region.
Commitment to Public Health
The commissioner stated that the Punjab government places the protection of public health among its highest priorities and that there would be no compromise on the quality of medicines. He warned that no one would be allowed to endanger public lives through the manufacture, distribution, or sale of substandard or counterfeit medicines.
Alignment with International Standards
Commissioner Kathia further directed the authorities to align all stages of the drug testing process with modern international standards while improving transparency, efficiency, and turnaround time. He said these measures would strengthen quality assurance and help ensure the provision of safe and reliable healthcare services to the public.
