RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Federal Secretary for Science & Technology Fazal Abbas Maken has said confidence of the consumers is always proportionate to safety and reliability of a product and this confidence can only be achieved through standardization.

Addressing as chief guest at a seminar titled "Standards Build Trust" on the occasion of World Standards Day at FPCCI head office Maken acknowledged the fact that industrialization, standardization and economic growth grow together as without standardization optimum growth cannot be achieved.

"We are an energy starved country therefore deployment of efficient energy solution cannot be over emphasized and PSQCA is addressing this issue and have developed internationally harmonized Pakistan Standards on energy efficient products to address this burning issue," he added.

He said the theme "Standards Build Trust" is in itself a reflection of the objective of World Standards Day which is basically meant to surmount technical trade barriers under new world trade regime. Moreover, International Standards especially with regards to Pakistan is one single important factor that could direct/channelize the entire outlook of business under WTO agreements.

The event was organized by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in collaboration with Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) on October 14. The objectives of the seminar were to promote quality standards culture in the country.

Director General PSQCA Muhammad Khalid Siddiq in his welcome address thanked the participants and said that the changing face of international trade has led to single, globally acceptable technical standards for globally marketable products. At the international level, standards are becoming a pillar of the new global trade system. In today's increasingly globalized trading environment, international standards are powerful tools to lead positive change for spurring economic growth, adapt to climate change and open up global markets.

He said: "I urge Pakistani companies to remain vigilant about the latest development of international standards and get involved in the international standards committees of ISO and IEC."