Islamabad: Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Nawabzada Khalid Hussain Magsi, and Federal Secretary for Science and Technology, Shahid Iqbal Baloch, met with a high-level delegation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to discuss public health challenges posed by lead exposure.

According to Press Information Department, the meeting, led by H.E. Abdullah A. Fodil, Director of Partnership for a Lead-Free Future, focused on the harmful effects of lead on maternal health and childhood development. The participants addressed national priorities and strategies for mitigating these effects, emphasizing the need for regulatory interventions.

Key proposals included establishing a Lead-Free Testing Laboratory at PCSIR Karachi, with extensions in Lahore, Quetta, and Peshawar to support research on lead prevalence. There was also a call to strengthen regulatory frameworks under the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority to monitor permissible lead levels in various products.

The meeting underscored the importance of national conferences, policy dialogues, and awareness campaigns. The Federal Minister committed the Pakistan Science Foundation to initiate seminars on the hazards of lead exposure.

The officials reiterated that this collaboration with UNICEF marks a significant move toward a healthier and safer future for Pakistani children.