Mandatory list of PSQCA: NA body voices concern over inclusion of only 108 products

A parliamentary panel on Thursday expressed its concern that out of 22,000 food items only 108 products are included in the mandatory list of Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology met under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema. The committee observed that out of 22,000 food items only 108 products are included in the mandatory list of PSQCA despite the fact that these items have licences but the department could only take action against the mandatory products.
The committee directed that PSQCA should formulate a policy in order to keep check and balance on non-mandatory products so that the quality of these products could not be compromised. The committee was informed that overall results of open market surveillance reveal that conformance level to the relevant PSS in Islamabad and its peripheries is quite good except bottled drinking water which is significantly less than the average level of overall performance.
The committee directed that PSQCA should take strict action against those manufacturers who did not fulfill the required criteria and its report be submitted to the committee on monthly basis. The committee further directed that PSQCA should coordinate with media persons in order to expose the substandard manufacturers.