New Page 1

.................................................................................................

::. METROLOGY, STANDARDS, TESTING AND QUALITY (MSTQ) ASSURANCE SYSTEMS

To provide one-window services for standardization and quality control, Government of Pakistan has established Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) by Act-VI of 1996.

Three organizations namely Pakistan Standards Institution (PSI), Central Testing Laboratories (CTL) and Metal Industry Research and Development Centre (MIRDC) located in Lahore have been merged into PSQCA. The Authority works now through three centres namely, Standards Development Centre (SDC), Quality Control Centre (QCC) and Technical Services Centre (TSC).

PSQCA is a member of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrochemical Commission (TEC) and International Organization for Legal Metrology (IOML)

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS:

Setting up of Standards on quality and dimensions, preparation and promotion of general adoption of Pakistan Standard Specifications, operation of Certificate Marks System and coordination of the efforts of producers and users for the improvement of standardization and to provide assistance in the manufacture of quality products.

Testing and assessment of industrial raw materials and finished products to establish their quality, grade and composition with reference to national and international standard specifications of quality in various fields like chemical, chemical products and formulations, textile, food items etc.

Coordination and cooperation with other national, regional and international organizations, associations, societies, institutes or council and dissemination of technical information through seminars, workshops, symposia, press print and electronic media and to develop a quality conscious culture in Pakistan.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES:

i. Standards Development Centre (SDC): About 4700 standards have been developed by eight divisions (Agriculture & Food, Chemical, Civil Engineering, Electro-Technical, Electronics, Textile, Weights & Measures) of SDC related to the many manufactured products and services. The Government of Pakistan has issued a notification that all the ISO Standards (about 13500) have been directly adopted as Pakistan Standard Specifications. All Pakistan Standards developed earlier are being reviewed to be re-designated as ISO Standards and only those standards will be retained which are specific to Pakistani Products and Services. It means that Pakistani Standards Specifications may increase to about 15000 with direct adoption of ISO Standards. Pakistan Standard Specifications are, thus, available now, on a wide range of products and services. Adoption of ISO Standard as Pakistan Standard Specifications will have far reaching consequences for increasing trade within and out side the country.

The adoption of most of the Pakistan Standards by the local industry is voluntary, but it is mandatory to manufacture some items according to Pakistan Standards as announced by the Government of Pakistan from time to time. Presently list includes 46 items like edible oils / banaspati ghee, margarine, biscuits and other major items like cement, electric bulbs, tube-lights, safety razor blades and PVC pipes, natural mineral water bottled drinking water and two wheeler/ three wheeler auto vehicles.

Under the PSQCA Act. VI of 1996 the manufacturers of these items under Certification Marks Scheme need licenses to manufacture. These licenses are issued only after ascertaining that proper equality control facilities are available with the manufacturers. The primary responsibility for quality is of the manufacturers and PSQCA monitors the quality by periodical check up of quality control and collection of samples from manufacturers and random collection of samples of the products of licensed manufacturers from the market.

ii. Quality Control Centre (QCC): The Quality Control Centre (formerly Central Testing Laboratories) undertakes testing and assessment of industrial raw materials and finished products to establish their quality, grade and dimensions with reference to national and international standard specifications of quality in the field of chemical, mechanical, engineering, electrical goods, and appliances, building materials and textile materials and provide scientific advice to industrial units in regard to improve the quality of their products.

iii. Technical Services Centre (TSC): The services offered by this centre since its inception have resulted in saving of huge amount of valuable foreign exchange. Service of the Centre have widely been utilized by public and private sectors such as Pakistan Army , Civil Aviation, Pakistan International Airlines, Water and Power Development Authority, Automotive, Agriculture, Iron, Steel and Non-Ferrous Foundries, Rolling Mills, Forging Units, Engineering, Textile, Gas pipeline, Chemical Plants, Fertilizers, Railways, Cement Plants, Refineries etc.

The quality control / quality assurance jobs have also been carried out which includes failure analysis, metallurgical evaluation of metallic materials, chemical, physical testing. It is worth mentioning here that jobs of failure analysis, done by this centre, have also led to the saving of huge amount of foreign exchange for the country.

PAKISTAN NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (PNAC)

Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) has been established as an autonomous body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science & Technology to regulate the Accreditation and Registration System in the country. The PNAC is a national body assigned to assess, qualify and supervise certification agencies, laboratories, training course provider and personnel in the relevant fields. The PNAC is seeking membership of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation council (ILAC) – the apex international agencies in relevant fields, and would also act as focal point for co-ordination with relevant international, regional and national organizations. This will ensure that all ISO certification in Pakistan will have international recognition and thus save cost and time spent by local companies on testing and inspection by the buyers. PNAC has accredited various foreign certification bodies. Simultaneously to create awareness about the standards and quality practices, among all the stakeholders, "Crash Awareness Raising & Training Programme in the field of Quality" has been launched. Under this programme, more then 500 seminars and courses are being, held throughout the country in the coming 2 years. So far, around 100 seminars and courses, have been organized on different topics like ISO 9000, ISO 14000, SA 8000, ISO17025 etc.