Achievements — PHRL KP

Track Record

Major Achievements

💉

COVID-19 Testing Leader in KP

Conducted over 1.8 million COVID-19 PCR tests, making PHRL one of the largest COVID-19 testing centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a peak daily capacity of 6,000 tests per day. Also became one of the largest COVID-19 vaccination centres in KP.

🌍

Genomics Lifted UK Travel Ban on KP

Performed whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 variants through the ACGT section — results that directly facilitated the United Kingdom's removal of travel restrictions on residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PHRL was among the second-largest COVID-19 sequencers nationally.

🏥

Built KP's District Lab Network

Enabled the establishment of 12 peripheral district-level laboratories across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding diagnostic access to the grassroots level across the province.

🌊

Flood Emergency — Mobile Lab Deployment, District Buner

Deployed the Mobile Laboratory for 62 consecutive days in District Buner following devastating floods, conducting 10,300+ diagnostic tests in the field. A collaborative initiative involving PHRL, KMU, DG Health Services, IDSR, and NIH — providing critical disease surveillance in an emergency.

🚫

Cholera Outbreak Prevented

Successfully prevented a cholera outbreak during post-flood emergencies through rapid disease investigation, field laboratory deployment, and real-time reporting to the IDSR/Health Department response teams (District Upper Dir).

🔬

Lab-Based Outbreak Confirmation

Confirmed multiple disease outbreaks through laboratory evidence, including MPox (Monkeypox) — identifying the highest number of cases in the region — CCHF (Congo Fever), Chikungunya, Dengue, Diphtheria, and Influenza, enabling timely public health responses.

💊

Designated AMR Reference Laboratory

Officially notified as the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Reference Laboratory for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — leading provincial AMR surveillance, antibiogram development, and training in partnership with UKHSA and Fleming Fund.

💰

PKR 3 Billion in Healthcare Cost Savings

With 1.75 million+ tests performed, PHRL is estimated to have saved over PKR 3 billion in healthcare costs for the province — reducing the need for patients to travel to Islamabad or private labs for costly confirmatory diagnostics.

AMR Programme

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges of 21st century healthcare. PHRL KP is leading the provincial response.

AMR Reference Laboratory — KP

Officially notified as the Antimicrobial Resistance Reference Laboratory for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Regular TWG Meetings

Conducts Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings and structured follow-up actions on provincial AMR priorities.

AMR Dashboard Training

Orientation and training on the AMR surveillance dashboard conducted for provincial laboratories across KP.

Provincial Antibiogram

Prepared provincial antibiogram for District Buner as part of post-flood emergency response.

AMR Week 2025

AMR awareness activities conducted jointly with DGHS KP, KMU, Fleming Fund & UKHSA.

AMR Programme Partners

UKHSAUK Health Security Agency — Technical support

Fleming FundAMR surveillance & antibiogram funding

DGHS KPGovernment coordination & policy

KMUAcademic & research support

"We need to stop drug resistance — AMR is the biggest challenge of 21st century healthcare."

— Prof. Dr. Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai, Director PHRL KP

Key Achievements