Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that National Quality Consultants (NQC), was the first consultancy authorised for ISO certification to meet the WTO regime challenges.
He said this while launching new services of WTO and trade related services and National Quality Management Services, as well as certificate distribution ceremony of Expert Advisory Cell (EAC) here on Saturday.
The objective of the NQC is to facilitate public/private sector in the matters relating to the implementation of quality, environment and management system, he said.
He said that the new services would facilitate the local industry in meeting international quality/environment standards which are going to be the trade barriers for Pakistan's products in the WTO regime scenario.
To comply with non-tariff barriers, a well-established network of certified and accredited laboratories is required so that the products could be effectively tested before entering international markets.
"We should do away with the myths and misconception surrounding the WTO multilateral trading system and educate the industry and business community about the benefits of WTO and the legal instruments available under the WTO to protect our industry," Jatoi said.
The minister underlined the need for preparation of long-term policies to compete in international market.
He said that establishment of WTO department was a timely initiative by Experts Advisory Cell (EAC) which would help in guiding and assisting the industry and the business community in WTO trade related matters.
These services would focus on development and growth of Pakistan's industry according to requirements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime through dissemination of information, providing consultancy to trade and industry in the respective fields.
He said that "we are not scared of the WTO scenario, as we are preparing industrial sector to meet the challenges".
Jatoi asked for amendment in the labour laws as it is the requirement to safeguard the industrial and production sector in the fully competitive world market. Pakistan had spent $ 4 billion for the up-gradation of textile machinery as well as overcoming environmental problems in industrial sector, he added.
Value-addition in the industrial products is also under consideration, as by attractive packaging, hygienic processing and good demonstration Pakistan has the potential to earn manifold, he said.
Jatoi said that Pakistan has remarkable opportunities in the fruit, vegetables and shrimp farming and the farmers should spend some money to acquire the processing machinery which would make their products more valuable in the world market.
Later, he distributed certificates among the participants of quality management training course.
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