ISLAMABAD: As the government is showing little interest in ensuring the production and supply of quality products in the country, the 51st World Standards Day 2020 went largely unnoticed in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the only government organization that previously conducted public awareness campaigns on this day, was also confined to organizing a seminar with over a dozen participants in its office to celebrate the international event on Wednesday.
“Only some national standard committee members and a few staff members of PSQCA were invited to the seminar held at the authority’s office in Karachi,” said an official while talking to this scribe. “This shows the PSQCA’s seriousness in ensuring the standards of around 200 food and non-food items mandated to the authority for certification, inspection and licensing.”
Previously, the PSQCA, an attached department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, used to hold seminars, workshops and conferences at public forums, offices of chambers of commerce, besides running a campaign in the media regarding the importance of quality and standards on the Global Standards Day.
“Except the meeting, which the PSQCA called a seminar, not a single event was organized or held in the country to spread awareness about the standard and quality of goods. The corrupt officials at PSQCA, who are facing cases in NAB and FIA, cannot actually face the public in seminars and conferences. This is why they avoid celebrating such events,” said another official who wished not to be named.
Nevertheless, in a statement issued by PSQCA, the authority claimed that it had organized a “seminar” to mark the 51st World Standards Day 2020 on the topic ‘Protecting the Planet with Standards’.
As per the statement, PSQCA Director General Abdul Aleem Memon stated that the “confidence of the consumer is always proportionate to safety and reliability of a product and this confidence can only be achieved through standardization”.
He acknowledged the fact that industrialization, standardization and economic growth progress together, as without standardization optimum, growth cannot be achieved. Moreover, he observed, international standards especially with regard to Pakistan are a single important factor that could channelize the entire outlook of business.
He welcomed all the guests for their presence and active participation to mark the event, noting that the changing face of international video standards has led to single, globally acceptable technical standards for globally marketable products.
He urged the Pakistani companies to remain vigilant about the latest developments of international standards and get involved with PSQCA.
Memon claimed that the authority, with the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors, has maintained its dedication by bringing positive changes to this activity every year.
Later, certificates were distributed by the PSQCA director general among the chairmen of the national standards committees in recognition of their services in the formulation of national standards.
