Islamabad: 17 October, 2025.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the upgraded Geoscience Advanced Research Laboratories (GARL) of the Geological Survey of Pakistan on Friday. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) alongwith Federal Ministers and distinguished foreign dignitaries attended the event. The event marked a significant enhancement of the country’s mineral research capabilities, drawing high-level attention to the development of Pakistan’s mineral sector. The facility, originally established in 1991, has undergone comprehensive modernization to meet international standards.
The revitalized laboratory complex in Chak Shehzad now holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, certifying its technical competence for testing and calibration according to global benchmarks. This development enables the facility to provide internationally recognized analytical data required by mining companies for reserve estimation under JORC and NI 43-101 reporting standards.
Officials of the Geological Survey of Pakistan described the up-gradation and accreditation as crucial for attracting investments in the mineral sector, as it will provide the reliable data that international mining companies and financial institutions require for major projects.
Based on the legacy of over three decades, the modernized facility will serve as a state-of-the-art hub equipped to meet the evolving and demanding needs of modern mineral sector development.
