A country like Pakistan where counterfeit and substandard products are being sold everywhere with impunity, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), did not even bother to celebrate 'World Standards Day' to spread awareness among the masses, showing indifference towards its prime responsibility.
The 45th Standards Day was celebrated across the world on Tuesday to enhance standard culture, besides paying tribute to the organisations and their members who contributed to standardisation activities across the globe. However, PSQCA being a National Standards Body, which was established with a view to promote and ensure standard culture in the Pakistan, besides to play a proactive role to protect not only consumers right but also to facilitate the flourishing businesses of industrial sector to compete in the global market on the basis of standard products, failed even to organise an awareness programme for the citizens on World Standards Day.
During a visit to PSQCA head office this correspondent observed that no programme was scheduled regarding Quality and Standards to mark the day and the entire building was presenting a deserted look. It has been an established fact that the standardisation is crucial for national economic growth, for that purpose Ministry of Science and Technology and PSQCA should play their due role, and step up to spread awareness among consumers, industry and the regulators about the importance of quality culture.
Health experts believed that mushroom supply of unregistered and substandard drinking water, beverages and food products is tantamount to further deteriorate the society's health as most of the Karachiites are suffering from water-born diseases. They said that PSQCA should conduct awareness programme for masses particularly in underprivileged areas every now and then so that the public health safety can be ensured.
On the other hand, officials of PSQCA said that due to busy schedule of Minister of Science and Technology and Secretary PSQCA, the World Standard Day could not be celebrated on the same day. They said that PSQCA will organise an awareness programme before the end of this month. They said that the authority was actively spreading awareness among the masses about quality and standard through massages via print and electronic media. They further said that the authority is also taking strict actions while conducting raids against the elements involved in manufacturing and selling of substandard and counterfeit products in the market.
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