ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Customs has inaugurated a modern testing laboratory at Azakhel Dry Port to facilitate trade and speed up the clearance process for imported goods.
The newly established facility is equipped with advanced instruments capable of testing textiles, plastics, food items, and dyes — ensuring faster and more accurate quality checks.
According to officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), importers previously had to send samples of goods to laboratories in Karachi, Lahore, or Faisalabad, which not only delayed clearance but also increased operational costs. With the new setup in Azakhel, nearly 80 percent of testing will now be conducted locally.
The initiative fulfills a long-standing demand of the business community. Importers have welcomed the move, saying it will significantly reduce clearance time, cut expenses, and limit the duration goods remain at the dry port.
President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Junaid Altaf, hailed the development, noting that on-site testing of authentic samples would improve customs transparency and enhance trade efficiency.
In a related announcement, the FBR confirmed that another state-of-the-art laboratory is planned at the Torkham Border Station under the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project, which aims to further improve trade facilitation and border management.
