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PSQCA: National Standard Body
Standardization is instrumental in the creation of order in our technical world. Actually in broad sense we may say, it is an integral part of the existing economic, social and legal structure. Therefore Standards play a very important and crucial role in modern technology as well as in agriculture sector of the country, provide acceptable norms and guidelines for determining the quality and serviceability of raw materials, finished product and process. Being realized the importance and development of Metrology, Standards, Testing and Quality (MSTQ) infrastructure that provides an essential building block for industrial development in the country, the Government of Pakistan has decided to establish an Authority namely; Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) by merging former three organizations, these are Pakistan Standards Institution (PSI), Central Testing Laboratories (CTL) and Metal Industry Research Development Centre (MIRDC) by enactment through Act No. VI of 1996, now these organizations are PSQCA’s integral parts and denoted as component Centres and in a position to provide one window services for standardization and quality control more efficiently. PSQCA is the National Standard Body in Pakistan, came into functioning since December 1, 2000, working with 81 scientists / engineers and 254 supporting staff as self finance organization, being given the task not only formulation of Pakistan Standards, it is also responsible for promulgation thereof. PSQCA is also a national member body of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electro-technical Commission (EEC), and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). The work of PSQCA is a technical - scientific service that is of benefit to the whole of the national economy. Its scope is defined as the systematic standardization of tangible and intangible objects by the mutual efforts of all interested parties for the benefit of the entire community. Further its work in Metrology, Standards, Testing, Quality Assurance and Export guidance is geared to enable the Pakistani Industrialist / Agriculturist to meet the quality needs of buyers at home and at abroad to meet the challenges of WTO regime.
PSQCA COMPONENTS: 1. Standards Development Centre (SDC): SDC (formerly Pakistan Standards Institution - PSI”) National Standards Body of Pakistan was established under the administrative control of Ministry of Industries in 1951 at Karachi. PSI (now SDC) was given statutory status in 1961 and has also been entrusted the responsibility for operating the Pakistan Standards Institution Certification Marks Scheme under Certification Marks Ordinance, 1961. SDC was transferred from Ministry of Industries to Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in May 1995. The Head Office of this Centre is still located at Karachi while the regional offices are located at Karachi (Sindh), Lahore (Punjab), Peshawar (N.W.F.P), Quetta (Balochistan) Liaison Office at Multan with total staff of 152 personnel including 36 scientists / engineers. After the adoption of ISO / IEC Standards, the number of Pakistan Standards has reached to 21000. 2. Quality Control Centre (QCC): QCC (formerly ”Central Testing Laboratories - CTL”) was established in 1951 for assessment of quality and grade of industrial raw materials and finished products. The Head Office and main laboratories of this Centre are located in Karachi with branch office and laboratories at Lahore. A liaison office was established in 1995 in Peshawar. QCC is now working with a total staff of 140 personnel including 23 scientists / engineers. The Centre 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, textile materials and provides scientific advice to industrial units to improve their products. 3. Technical Services Centre (TSC): TSC (formerly ”Metal Industry Research Development Centre - MIRDC”) was established in Lahore in 1975 to assist the metal and metallurgical industries of Pakistan by solving their technical problems, increasing and improving productivity through transfer of technology, decreasing the wastes and to save foreign exchange through indigenous development of various components and alloys. TSC is working with a total staff of 72 personnel including 18 scientists / engineers). The Centre services are of diverse nature and extend from short-term metallurgical investigations to long-term projects. The facilities and the expertise available from a complete set up ready for any quality control assignment. The Centre also offers an outstanding array of skills with the professional expertise of highest qualified multidisciplined team of engineers to carry out the activities: product development, standardisation services, quality control and quality assurance, failure investigation, inspection services, solutions to shop floor problems through practical demonstrations, non-destructive, physical and chemical testing, technical audit and certification, short and long term training courses, seminars, workshops etc. The services of the centre are widely utilized by automotive, agricultural, iron and steel foundries, rolling mills, land forging units, textile, defence, power generation, gas pipe line, chemical, and cement and fertilizer industries.
Powers and
Functions of the Authority 1. Designing, measuring and testing, instruments and test procedures; 2. Inspection and testing of products and services for their quality, specifications and characteristics, during use and for import and export purposes; 3. To review of matters this may be necessary for quality improvement of products or processes; 4. Preparation, implementation, co-ordination ’or arranging of the training programmers on standardization, quality control testing and weights and measures, for technical staff of the authority, other organizations and trainers from foreign countries-, 5. Setting up, assisting in, establishing and authorizing various inspection and testing centres and agencies at important industrial sites and towns; 6. Providing for the quality labeling standards which shall specify ingredients, performance, specification, usage, methods and other relevant quality control matters; 7. Grading the products when requested by manufacturers, or when-ever necessary for the purpose of quality improvement; 8. Setting up the mode of inspection and the manner in which samples may be obtained; 9. Examination of manufacturing plants for the designated products or processes for approval of marks of the Authority. 10. To stop manufacture, storage and sale of such products which do not conform to the Pakistan or any other country’s standards recognized by the Authority. 11. Inspection and taking of samples of any material or product for examination as to whether any article or process in relation to which any of Authority mark has been used conforms to the Pakistan Standard or a standard of any other country recognized by the Authority or whether any of the Authority mark has been improperly used in relation to any article or process with or without license or certificate. 12. Specification of the manner and condition subject to which a license or certificate to use any of the Authority marks may be granted or renewed, suspended, cancelled or withdrawn; 13. Granting, renewal, suspension, cancelled or withdrawal of a license or certificate for the use of any of the Authority marks; 14. Levying of fees, for marking, grant or renewal of any license or certificate in relation to use of any of the Authority marks; 15. Levying of fees, for checking, inspection and testing of products for imports, exports or local consumption; 16. Framing and publishing, amending, revising or withdrawal of the Pakistan Standards in relation to any article, product process; 17. Determination of Pakistan Standards for the measurement of length, weight, volume, energy and materials; 18. Collection, circulation of statistics and other information relating to standardization, quality control, metrology, applied research; 19. Establishment, maintenance of libraries, museum, laboratories and accreditation of other laboratories for the purpose of furthering the practices of standardization, metrology and quality control; 20. Communication with public and Governmental agencies on national and international levels, on matters connected with standardization and other activities of the Authority through circulars, books, public media or through seminars, symposia, workshops and printing and publishing and circulars and books; 21. Securing recognition of the Pakistan Standards and confidence in Pakistani products abroad; 22. Registration of inspection agencies; 23. Coordination and cooperation with other national, regional and international organizations, associations, societies, institutions or councils, whether incorporate or not, whose objects are wholly or in part similar to those of the Authority; and 24. Constitution of committees of carrying out the schemes and programmes of the Authority.
PSQCA Objectives: 1. Setting up of standards on quality and dimensions, preparation and promotion of general adoption of Pakistan Standard Specifications, operation of Certification Marks System and coordination of the efforts of manufactures and consumers for the improvement of standardizations and to provide assistance thus in the manufacture of quality products. 2. Testing and assessment of industrial raw materials and finished products to establish their quality, grade and composition with reference to national or international standard specifications of quality in various fields like chemical products and formulations, textiles, food items, building materials, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronic goods and appliances etc., and provision of consultancy services to industrial units in regard to the improvement of quality of their products. 3. Work on standardization, improvement of analytical methods, procedures and consultancy / research in the field of metallurgy. 4. Inspection and testing of products and services for their quality specifications and characteristics during use and imports and exports purposes. 5. Grant, renewal, suspension, cancellation or withdraw of a license or certificate in relation to use of any of the Authority Marks. 6. Encouragement and implementation of Quality and Environmental Management Systems that is ISO: 9001 and ISO: 14000 and assistance to local industries to obtain certifications for these systems. 7. Coordination and cooperation with other national, regional land international organizations, association, association, societies, institutions or councils, whether incorporate or not, whose objectives are wholly or in part similar to those of the Authority. (Dr. A.G Soomro is Director General PSQCA, Karachi.) |