Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the upgraded Geoscience Advance Research Laboratories of the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP), marking a major step towards strengthening the country’s mineral research and exploration capabilities.

Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, and foreign dignitaries attended the ceremony, which underscored the government’s focus on developing Pakistan’s vast mineral potential.

Originally established in 1991, the facility has been comprehensively modernised to meet international standards.

The revitalised laboratory complex in Chak Shahzad now holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, certifying its technical competence in testing and calibration in line with global benchmarks.

Officials said the upgraded and accredited facility will play a pivotal role in attracting international investment by providing reliable analytical data required for reserve estimation by mining companies and financial institutions.

With over three decades of legacy, the modernised complex will serve as a state-of-the-art hub for advancing geoscientific research and supporting Pakistan’s goal of sustainable mineral sector development.