Lahore, 14 September 2026: The 1st Fungal Culture Bank of Pakistan (FCBP), in collaboration with the Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, successfully organized a one-day training on "Laboratory Biosafety and Good Laboratory Practices" at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore.

The training aimed to promote a strong culture of safety and quality in research and teaching laboratories by providing essential knowledge and practical guidance on biosafety principles and Good Laboratory Practices. The programme brought together 25 participants from leading academic and research institutions, including the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, Government College University (GCU), Lahore, the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, and the Rice Research Institute (RRI), Kala Shah Kaku.

The inaugural session was graced by Prof. Dr. Tehmina Anjum, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Amna Shoaib, Chairperson, Department of Plant Pathology, who addressed the participants and underscored the importance of biosafety and quality standards in modern laboratories. Dr. Waheed Anwar, Incharge FCBP, welcomed the participants and gave an overview of the training's objectives. The technical session featured a series of expert talks covering biological, chemical and physical hazards, personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand hygiene, biosafety levels and laboratory design, aseptic techniques, laboratory waste management, decontamination and disinfection, emergency preparedness, and quality culture and documentation. Participants also took part in hands-on training sessions at the FCBP and the Central Laboratory, where they gained practical experience in applying biosafety and GLP protocols.

The event concluded with a closing ceremony and the distribution of certificates among the participants. The organizers expressed the hope that such capacity-building initiatives will continue to strengthen a shared commitment to safety, quality, and responsibility across research and teaching laboratories.