ISLAMABAD: UNICEF and the Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) have partnered with Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology to strengthen national safety standards and regulatory enforcement for lead-free consumer products, according to a ministry statement issued on Wednesday.
The announcement followed a meeting between UNICEF Officer-in-Charge Representative Sharmeela Rasool, LEEP Country Head Abid Hasan, and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi. Federal Secretary Shahid Iqbal Baloch and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Chairman Dr Syed Hussain Abidi also attended the meeting, the statement said.
The discussions focused on the presence of lead in commonly used consumer products, including turmeric (haldi), paints, traditional eye liners and other products, while highlighting the serious health risks posed by lead exposure, particularly for children and pregnant women.
It added that the participants emphasized the urgent need to develop and enforce stringent national safety standards to eliminate lead from consumer products and safeguard public health.
The statement said the federal minister announced that these products would be included in the mandatory certification regime of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
He said mandatory standards and certification would strengthen regulatory oversight, enhance market surveillance and ensure that only safe and quality-assured products are available to consumers, as per the statement.
UNICEF and LEEP reaffirmed their commitment to providing comprehensive technical support to the Ministry of Science and Technology and its affiliated organizations, it added.
According to the statement, the collaboration will include assistance in developing and implementing national standards, capacity building, specialized training for technical and regulatory personnel, strengthening laboratory infrastructure, addressing gaps in testing facilities and equipment, and enhancing institutional capabilities for effective quality assurance and regulatory enforcement.
The minister appreciated the continued support of UNICEF and LEEP in strengthening Pakistan's quality infrastructure, saying robust standards, effective regulatory mechanisms and modern laboratory facilities are essential to protecting public health and ensuring the safety and well-being of the people of Pakistan.
Both sides agreed to work closely through coordinated technical cooperation, institutional strengthening and regulatory reforms, with the initiatives expected to reduce lead exposure, improve consumer product safety, strengthen national testing and certification systems, and better protect children and other vulnerable segments of society.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Ministry of Science and Technology, PSQCA, PCSIR, UNICEF and LEEP to advancing product safety, strengthening Pakistan's quality infrastructure, and ensuring a healthier and safer future for all, concluded the statement.
