Pakistan Customs has established a new customs testing laboratory at Azakhel Dry Port to facilitate trade and speed up the clearance process for imported goods.
The newly inaugurated facility is equipped with modern instruments to test textiles, plastics and plastic products, food items, and dyes, ensuring faster and more accurate quality checks.
According to officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), previously, samples of such goods had to be sent to laboratories in Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad, a process that took several days and increased costs. With the new setup, around 80 percent of testing will now be conducted locally in Azakhel.
The establishment of the laboratory fulfills a long-standing demand from importers, who have welcomed the move, saying it will reduce clearance time, cut costs, and minimize the duration goods remain at the dry port.
President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Junaid Altaf, also praised the initiative, noting that on-site testing of authentic samples will help improve customs controls and transparency.
In addition, the FBR announced that a state-of-the-art laboratory will soon be established at the Torkham Border Station under the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) project to further enhance trade facilitation and border management.
