Customs Opens New Laboratory at Azakhel Dry Port to Speed Up Trade Testing

Pakistan Customs has set up a new Customs Laboratory at Azakhel Dry Port, a major step aimed at expediting trade facilitation and cutting clearance delays for importers. The new facility is equipped with essential instruments capable of testing fabrics, plastics, dyes, edible goods, and related products. Officials said the lab will handle up to 80 percent of all local testing requirements, greatly reducing the need to send samples to distant facilities. Previously, traders had to send product samples to laboratories in Karachi, Lahore, or Faisalabad, a process that took several days and raised logistical costs. The new Azakhel lab is expected to shorten turnaround time, reduce expenses, and improve efficiency in customs clearance. Importers welcomed the move, calling it a “long-awaited relief.” They said the lab’s operation would not only lower costs but also help cut dwell time — the period goods remain in port before clearance. President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Junaid Altaf, praised the initiative, noting that improved testing capacity will enhance transparency and ensure integrity of samples during inspections. Customs officials confirmed that another state-of-the-art laboratory will soon become operational at Torkham Border Station under the Integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITTMS) Project, further strengthening border management and trade facilitation efforts.