Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses overseas Pakistanis in London. Photo: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the upgraded Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories (GARL) of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP).
The inauguration ceremony held at the revived GARL complex in Chak Shehzad was attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers and prominent foreign dignitaries, a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the modernization of the laboratory represented a significant step towards realizing Pakistan’s vast mineral potential through scientific innovation and global collaboration.
He said the government was committed to equipping national institutions with the latest technology to ensure sustainable and internationally competitive development in the mineral sector.
Established in 1991, the facility has now been extensively upgraded to meet international standards and has achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, confirming its technical competence for testing and calibration according to globally recognized benchmarks.
The upgraded laboratories will now produce analytical data that complies with international reporting standards such as JORC and NI 43-101, enabling mining companies to perform accurate reserve estimates and attract global investment.
Geological Survey of Pakistan officials said the lab’s accreditation would significantly boost investor confidence by providing reliable and verifiable data required by international mining companies and financial institutions for large projects.
