14th October is celebrated as the World Standards day by the Standards Bodies with a view to increase awareness among the stakeholders, manufacturers, distributors and consumers of goods & services across the globe; Special Supplements are published in national press.
It gives me great pleasure to learn that the PSQCA regularly participates in the event. This year, it shall express Pakistan's solidarity with the global theme "Standard for a safer world". This is timely as Pakistan government is determined to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, with due priority to availability of safe water to all by 2007.
Pakistan has adopted most ISO Standards, exceeding 20,000 that cover most products and services. Out of these, only 46 are Specific Standards are presently included in the compulsory list. To effectively check the sale of sub-standard products, and to respond to challenges of competition in the global market, it is indeed imperative to enforce Pakistan Standards, and ensure the marketing of "PS" marked quality products.
In an effort to upgrade the socio-economic infrastructure, a comprehensive program of public/private partnership is also under implementation, to ensure availability of trained personnel. A network of Quality Assurance laboratories would support this plan. As an important corollary of the harmonisation of our standards, upgrading of laboratory infrastructure is also in hand, to facilitate accredited testing of manufacturing products to equal marketing opportunities.
The PSQCA is duly represented on the international standards bodies; Pakistan is also committed towards integrating science & technology for eco-friendly sustained socio-economic development process. In the last few years, budgetary allocations have increased manifold, to prepare for the challenges ahead.
I expect that the PSQCA team would continue its good work in future as well: To strive to serve the people as best as possible.