LAHORE, Oct 24: Rapid globalisation and technological advancements have brought in the need for standardisation in Pakistan in order to improve international competitiveness and to solve socio-economic and environmental issues.

This was a consensus among speakers at a seminar arranged by Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in connection with World Standard Day on Wednesday.

LCCI Vice-President Mian Abuzar Shad said in his opening remarks that there was a dire need to give awareness to the business community in general and the exporters in particular about the importance of standardisation in doing business with the outer world.

He said the PSQCA was doing the needful through a network of offices and the businessmen should avail themselves of their expertise. He said the LCCI would continue to extend cooperation to the PSQCA in all its endeavours aimed at giving guidance to the business community.

PSQCA Director-General Pir Baksh Jamali said Pakistan had signed at least 14 MoUs with various countries, mainly Middle Eastern states, for mutual cooperation in the field of quality and standard besides international acceptance of Pakistani products. He said standardisation for Halal products had been developed while the same were being

developed for 62 items concerned with plant protection department.

Mr Jamali said recently the PSQCA signed an agreement with the Bureau of Indian Standards. He was optimistic that the PSQCA would facilitate the trade of cement and other items to India by mutual acceptance of standards and conformity of assessment procedures.

He expressed satisfaction over the fact that more than 2,000 standards developers from industry, research and development organisations, universities, professional associations and NGOs were voluntarily participating in more than 150 technical committees of the PSQCA.

He said barrier-free trade was an ultimate and indispensable reality of the world. Indeed, Pakistani companies must also remain vigilant about the development of international standards.

PSQCA had been providing a platform to the Pakistani industry to participate in the international standardisation activities of the ISO, IEO and OIML.

Mr Jamali said energy conservation and efficiency were the hot issues of Pakistan. PSQCA has adopted minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) which were one of the quickest and most effective means of removing inefficient products, services and practices from the market.

Technical Committee for Halal Standards Chairman Dr Hamed K Latif stressed the need for community participation in preparation of Halal standards. Dr Saira Siddique spoke about healthcare standards in Pakistan and called for formations of committees to improve healthcare standards in different parts of the country.

PSQCA Deputy Director Dr Shahzad Afzal said his organisation developed a wide range of standards for products, services, health, safety and environment etc. The standards have been formulated in the light of parameters set by International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), International Electro Technical Commission and International Organisation on Legal Metrology (OLML).