F.P. Report
KARACHI: The Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) needs to formulate long-term viable policies and allocate significant fund for the Mobile testing laboratories in all provincial head quarters and also uplifting consumers related policies with the focus on Import and Export Quality Standards which would help bring the consumers’ confidence. Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology chairman Senator Mushtaq Ahmed expresses these views while heading the committee meeting at Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) here.
The committee emphasized on revitalization of all the important matters which are neglected, besides directing the PSQCA to apprise the committee of the progress in the next meeting. The committee was informed by the Director General PSQCA Mr. Abdul Aleem Memon that we are taking measures to restructure the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in order to put in line with the best international practices.
The panel also expressed concern over non availability of mobile testing labs in all provinces of Pakistan an MTL is already functional in Karachi while similar laboratories are going to be introduced in other major cities to achieve better results and improve efficiency, the Senators said a featuring such measures had been worked out. He said that Upper House had undertaken several initiatives such as proposing Amendments in PSQCA Act to ensure improve quality control activities.
He said the proposed amendments include re-constitution of Board of Directors, reconstitution of Advisory Council and Executive Committee, Enhancement of penalties to non-conforming manufacturing or sale and curtailing of discretionary and arbitrary powers of the PSQCA field staff or officers etc.
He said consultation with the provincial government is under way through CCI for enhancing cooperative outreach of the Authority, adding steps were being taken to improve the monitoring mechanism through enhanced market surveillance, surprise visits besides regular quarterly inspection of industrial Units.
He said the mandatory products list of PSQCA had been increased from 105 products, on the occasion the federal Secretary Science & Technology Ms. Yasmeen Masood assure committee the full cooperation, DG PSQCA Mr. Abdul Aleem Memon Briefed the committee, he informed that PSQCA has a formal procedure of standard development and up till now we have developed/adopted 22,647 standards as Pakistan Standards.
Presently, we have 105 items in the list of mandatory items. During meeting committee observed the issues of employee’s promotions committee recommended a Sub-committee of Senate to resolve the matters committee comprising under the Chairmanship of Senator Dr. Sikandar Mendhro, Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman and Senator Nuzhat Sadiq will be the members. The committee after looking into the performance of department during the last three years observed that the PSQCA has great potential to assist the country and it further needs proper attention.
The committee urged the PSQCA to work more efficiently for ensuring provision of quality. The meeting was attended by Senator Dr. Sikandar Mendhro, Senator Sassui Palijo, Senator Gianchand, Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman, Federal Secretary for Science & Technology Ms. Yasmeen Masood and officers of PSQCA.
Perusing to the government policy “Green Pakistan”, the Senator Mushtaq Ahmed has planted a plant at PSQCA Complex.
