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Pakistan Strides Towards Compliance with International Standards

The Ministry of Science and Technology has taken a significant step towards promoting compliance with international standards in Pakistan. The technology department of the ministry has launched an incentive program for entrepreneurs to facilitate their ISO certification, providing an incentive grant for achieving ISO 9000/14000 certification.

Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)

The PSQCA is responsible for ensuring compliance with national and international standards. As the national standards body, PSQCA:

  • Establishes and enforces national standards
  • Registers inspection agencies
  • Assesses industrial raw materials and finished products for conformity with international standards

WTO-Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) National Enquiry Point

Pakistan has been designated as the WTO-TBT National Enquiry Point, responsible for:

  • Disseminating information on TBT notifications
  • Handling queries regarding standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures

This designation facilitates trade between Pakistan and WTO member countries by providing a single point of contact for exporters, traders, manufacturers, and importers.

Conformity Assessment in Pakistan

Interested parties can reach out to the PSQCA at:

  • Address: Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, Ministry of Science and Technology, Block 77, Pak Secretariat, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Phone: 92-21-99206260
  • Fax: 92-21-99206263

International Recognition for Pakistani Laboratories

Pakistan’s testing, inspection, and certification bodies are also recognized internationally. The Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) has signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement with International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), bringing Pakistani laboratories on par with international standards.

Contact information for PNAC is:

  • Address: Pakistan National Accreditation Council, Ground Floor, 1-C, Constitution Avenue, Opposite Prime Minister Office, G-5/2 Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Phone: 92-51-922-2310
  • Fax: 92-51-922-2312
  • Email: dg@pnac.org.pk

Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures

The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and the Ministry of Science and Technology regularly publish technical regulations governing industry standards. Stakeholders can review proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures using the ePing SPS&TBT platform, a free online platform that provides access to notifications made by WTO members under the Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).

Staying Compliant with International Standards in Pakistan

Pakistan is committed to promoting compliance with international standards. Stakeholders can reach out to government ministries and departments through the Pakistan Government Portal for more information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.

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