Federal Minister for Science and Technology Begum Tehmina Daultana vowed to upgrade the technical expertise of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to help industry to face the challenges of TBT under WTO by enhancing in-house capacity.
She said this during her visit to PSQCA here on Monday. Tehmina said that she is fully aware of the challenges being faced by the local industry as well as the PSQCA. She said that the increase in export volume is possible only through the quality of the products acceptable in the global market.
She expressed her concern on the rejection of more than 54 items exported to EU market due to non-compliance of technical regulations and non-conformance of the quality standard notified in EU. She took notice of several items which are consumed locally without due consideration of safety aspects. She stressed on the need of quality surveillance and standards to protect the health and hygiene of the citizens of Pakistan.
Daultana expressed her desire to help all quality infrastructure institutions in Pakistan to have better linkage for sustaining growth of the economy in respect of quality and standard so that not only consumers' interests are protected but the same may help in increasing our share in the overseas market.
She also desired PSQCA to become role model with enhanced facilities of testing and certification, which should be impressive so that the National Standardisation Body itself acquires the image of credit in the local and foreign market.-PR