Engineering Development Board (EDB) is likely to seek cooperation from Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) to check the quality of imported boilers. This was hinted by the newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer (EDB), Raza Abbas Shah at a meeting convened to discuss the issues being faced by the local manufacturers.
The delegation comprising major stakeholders of domestic Boilers Manufacturers Association apprised the EDB about the issues faced by the industry, in particular imports of second-hand and non standard boilers.
The Chairman Boilers Manufacturers Association, Manzar Shamim, stated that inefficient and second-hand boilers are being imported which are not only hurting local manufacturers but also adversely affecting the environment as well as causing operational losses to consumers due to inefficient fuel consumption.
He underscored the fact that second-hand boilers can be very hazardous and can cause life threatening accidents due to the fact that they mostly do not conform to the strict industrial standards that locally manufactured boilers adhere to.
The chairman stressed the need for reliable companies for both pre and post inspection of standards/certifications and strict enforcement of standards for safety and security to control import of boilers in Pakistan.
He further added that there should be some restrictions for import of old boilers to ensure quality, safety and security for end users. Pre-shipment inspection certificate should also be examined by some local testing and standards enforcement organization since at time of imports the certificate in the exporting country usually recommends certain refurbishments which are not carried out by the importers prior to bringing in the product to Pakistan. Certificate from original manufacturer may also be made a pre-condition. Furthermore all used boilers must come with economizers and all instrumentation and control.
CEO EDB suggested that quality organizations in the public sector such as Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) can be involved in this process of testing and inspections so as to ensure that non standardized and potentially hazardous products do not enter into operations in our domestic market.
The Chairman, Boiler Manufacturing Association apprised the meeting that consumers prefer to purchase second-hand boilers on account of low price and the consumers/customers are not quality conscious which is very hazardous.
He added that prior to this there was a Federal Boiler Board to control the prices. He further said there are around about 10 to 11 local manufacturers of boilers suffering due to price difference and raw material inputs.
The issue of SRO 565 also came under discussion which provides relief to the sector to some extent. The Chairman further requested support from EDB to tackle the problems and issues being faced by the local industry.
CEO-EDB requested that Boiler Manufacturers Association should submit some viable proposals to EDB within the next two weeks so that the matter can be effectively taken up within the government for resolution of the issues identified by the Association, for provision of a level playing field to all stakeholders, so as to provide benefit to the end consumers.