Minister for diversification, value-addition of local products

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Mir Changez Khan Jamali on Friday stressed the need of diversification and value-addition of the local products to boost the country's trade share globally. Speaking as a chief guest at the seminar titled "International Standards-Creating Confidence Globally", he said the adoption of global WTO standards is a need of the day.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) jointly organised the function to mark the 42nd World Standards Day, at the Federation House, Mir Changez also stressed the need of creating awareness amongst the manufacturing sectors of the country regarding the global compliance in line with WTO specified rules and practices to produce and export commodities more reliably world-wide.
"The today's seminar on World Standards Day I am sure, would achieve the objective of creation of awareness about importance of the International Standards under the WTO agreements," the minister hoped. He said Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority extended a platform to Pakistani industry to participate in the international standardisation activities of ISO, IEC and OIML.
He said the manufacturing sector of the country should not ignore practising the international standards as the global market has already outlined the conditions of trade clearly. He said the energy conservation and efficiency are the chief issues of the country as there is a need for the deployment of more efficient energy solutions. "With respect to energy sector, ISO has developed energy management standards. I would ask PSQCA to organise a workshop on this important subject and create public awareness on the issue," Mir Changez said.
He said the European Union has set a target of a 20 percent energy efficiency improvement by 2020. "I can see no reason why Pakistan cannot achieve or even exceed this target by the implementation of energy efficiency standards of home appliances," he said. He said the country needed to increase the value addition and diversification range of products as per the international standards. Mir Changez urged that the PSQCA and other Research and Development organisations of the ministry to support industries so that they could become able to customise and standardise solutions to their clients.
"Solutions sought include technology packages from Research and Development Institutions, a patent documentation system, standardisation, financing packages from financial institutions, investment in human resources, and development of a package to attract foreign investors," he said.
President FPCCI, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali said celebrating the World Standard Day is a good step to create awareness amongst the manufacturers and consumers in the country. However, the government should also implement its policies strictly to protect the consumers from substandard products including food, medicines, and other essential commodities.
He showed concerns over the degrading of the national quality control institutions, leaving the open field to those who manufacturing sectors fleecing consumers with the contaminated products at inflated rates. Ghulam Ali urged the government to undertake a drive to eliminate the menace of manufacturing of substandard and contaminated products in the country and assured it a complete support from the businessmen community. DG PSQCA Liaquat Ali Arain also expressed his views on the topic of the day. Vice-President FPCCI Dawood Usman Jakhura and Secretary-General FPCCI Syed Masood Alam Rizvi were also present at the event.