SAARC states: role of SARSO in enhancing quality infrastructure highlighted

The 2nd meeting of Sectoral Technical Committee (STC) of South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) on Electrical, Electronics, Telecom and IT was concluded here on Tuesday. The two-day event was hosted by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) here at a local hotel, aimed at playing effective role in accelerating the harmonization process of Standards as well as enhancing Quality infrastructure in SAARC countries.
The SARSO is a specialized body of SAARC and have mandate to develop SAARC Standards on product, process, and services in order to remove technical barriers to trade and enhance intra-regional trade within SAARC countries. Muhammad Khalid Saddiq Director General PSQAC in his inaugural remarks welcomed the foreign delegates and highlighted SARSO's role in harmonization of National Standards of SAARC member states.
He said that SARSO can play more effective role in accelerating the harmonization process of Standards as well as enhancing quality infrastructure in SAARC countries. Earlier, Engr Gulzar Memon from Pakistan was elected Chairman of STC on Electrical Electronics, Telecom and IT for three years terms. Tashi Wangchuk, Secretary to STC on Electrical, Electronics, Telecom and IT briefed the meeting about the progress made by the committee since its first meeting and highlighted the important decisions of the Governing Board of SARSO.
The committee discussed the comparative chart of National Standards of SAARC Countries and international Standards of International Electro technical Commission (IEC) on Electrical cabbies and Double Capped fluorescent Lamp safety and performance requirements separately and recommended to adopt IEC Standards as SAARC Standards for South Asia after completion of due process.
These SAARC Standards will then adopt by all member states of SAARC that will help in facilitating the trade on electrical products among SAARC member states. The meeting was attended by technical experts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and representatives from SARSO Secretariat, Dhaka.
In the concluding remarks, the Chief Guest, Muhammad Ashraf, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan noted the progress made by STC and advised the National Standards Body of SAARC Member States to engage more stakeholders in developing SAARC Standards. He appreciated the role of SARSO and SAARC in removing technical barriers to trade.