How to include PDF pages without a newpage before the first page?

You can use the pagecommand key:

\includepdf[scale=0.8,pages=1,pagecommand=\subsection{blub}]{testpdf}

You get the empty page when you use \includegraphics because the graphics is too large for the textbody, so latex tries if it fits on the next page (and then complain). pdfpages hides the size of the graphics so it is possible to insert complete pages which overwrites the margins. If you want to insert large graphics with \includegraphics: use eso-pic.

For me the following worked just fine:

\includepdf[pages=1,pagecommand=\section{Section Heading}]{testpdf}
\includepdf[pages=2-,pagecommand={}]{testpdf}

I tried this but the PDF overwrote the section heading. Add [offset=0 -3cm] and the PDF is dropped 3cm. All OK.

\includepdf[pages=1,pagecommand=\section{Section Heading}, offset=0 -3cm]{testpdf}
\includepdf[pages=2-,pagecommand={}, offset=0 -3cm]{testpdf}

I found an issue associated with the documentation of the section number. I added a label to the statements but this label is not recognized when used as a reference. However the TOC has the correct reference in line with that on the actual text on the PDF page.

Any suggestions as to fix this problem?

I am using this example:

\chapter{Technical Information}
\section{List of Technical Information}
 Text paragraph.\\
\textbf{Section Heading}  Refer \ref{newlabel} \\

\include[pages=1,pagecommand=\section{section Heading}, offset=0 -3cm]{testpdf}
\label{newlabel}
\includepdf[pages=2- ,pagecommand={ }, offset=0 -3cm]{testpdf}