: Pakistani industry is paying a heavy price for non-compliance of standards and certification culture. Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Director General, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) highlighted this situation before the sub-committee meeting of the Standing Committee on Science & Technology of the National Assembly.
The meeting was held Monday morning in the committee room of the Ministry of Science & Technology, Evacuee Trust Board Complex, Islamabad. Dr Rozina Tufail, MNA, presided over the meeting which was also attended by Chaudhry Haroon Qaiser, MNA and Hizbullah Bughio, MNA, Pervaiz Butt, Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology and other officials of his ministry.
According to details available here, the strategies of PSQCA detailed by the Director General, PSQCA include: initiation of product certification for manufacturing sector to meet the global market challenges, generate local capacity regarding management system/environmental issues (ISO-9000, 14000), etc, and enhancing public/private interaction through the advisory council. Further ensure consumer's participation in standardisation & quality control/assurance, and initiate MoUs & Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with national standard bodies of other countries to facilitate market excess.
In the road-map for sustainable economic infrastructure, PSQCA's focus would be on the development of standards and certification culture in Pakistan. Its priorities in this regard would be enhancing Pakistan's share in global trade through Trade Policy and PSQCA Act, 1996, to ensure import/export of quality products in line with the national/international standards/technical regulations and the WTO/Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) requirements.
In his presentation, Soomro emphasised that PSQCA was determined to educate and disseminate the quality culture among consumers through print/electronic media, seminars and symposia. PSQCA promotes establishment of accredited laboratories in private/public sector to contribute to the ever-increasing target of country's export.
An official who attended the meeting told Business Recorder that the standing committee agreed on the following: The committee chairman emphasised that PSQCA need to be strengthened and its role be expanded as per Act 1996 and practised as per mandated by law.
The committee acknowledged the role in exports and imports and it was identified that this role be extended in its real term as per practice by the neighbouring countries. This would build image of the country by sending products of standards and improve perception of the country.
The committee also agreed to extend the present 47 mandatory list of products for PSQCA certification before sale in the market and before import of products, including juices and beverages and also locally produced.