The national standard bodies, DIN of Germany, BS of United Kingdom and NIST of United States have assured all possible cooperation to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in meeting challenges of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and capacity building.
The assurance was given to Pervez Ahmed Butt, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology during the 41st meeting of ISO committee on developing country matters (Devco) followed by 30th ISO general assembly held in Geneva from September 17 to 21. A three-member delegation led by Pervez Ahmed Butt had attended these meetings. Other delegation members were Dr Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Director General, PSQCA and ENGR M A Jabbar representing the Industry.
Soomro told Business Recorder on return here on Thursday that Dr John Arnold who belongs to NIST and is also Vice-President Policy of ISO during his interaction with Butt on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources standards, promised help from NIST for strengthening capacity of national standards body of Pakistan, ie PSQCA and secure further help on matters related to efficient use of energy and finite resources.
He said that during the meetings and ISO general assembly, Pakistan delegation made forceful presentations and comments on the floor of general assembly before 150 members from more than 100 countries.
Interventions were focused on the need of developing countries and stress was laid on capacity building and removing supply constraints for better administration and governance of public policies to promote standardisation.
This was required to help developing countries including Pakistan to trade without being felt impeded by technical barriers coming in the way of exploitation of the potential of developing countries including Pakistan.
Standardisation is business strategy, which could be better services by further organisation of development of national standard bodies in developing countries like Pakistan.
The Pakistan delegation, Soomro said appreciated the International Trade Centre (ITC), an affiliate of ISO calling for international harmonisation of standards to avoid duplications and manage in time delivery of quality goods and services. It further suggested that ISO aided by international agencies should prepare curriculum of studies related to standardisation for high school level and of more appropriate level in colleges in developing countries.
ISO general assembly was suggested by Pakistan delegation to check the possibility of ensuring cross bordering of information among developing countries on their national standards, regional standards and adopted and amended standards on products and services so that it could lead to better education and understanding of each others requirements for conducting international trade.
ITC is also involved in trade facilitation, which equally refers to agreement on technical barriers to trade, an agreement of WTO which encourages members to coherent themselves on the issue through standards bodies where ISO is in the forefront.
The Director General, PSQCA said that active participation of Pakistan in Devco in matters of developing countries and in the ISO general assemblies was acknowledged. One-to-one meetings further strengthened our presence with representatives of different countries who offered Mutually Recognised Agreements (MRAs) proposals on standardisation. This is a good start to look towards regional cooperation for helping business community of Pakistan to conduct trade more comfortably. Soomro said that Pervez Butt, a renowned scientist of our country with his fitting communication skill enriched with appropriate language managed to invite the best attention of representatives of international standard bodies, ie DIN, BS and NIST.