Dr Shahzad Alam, Chairman PCSIR said that a World Class and state-of-the-art PCSIR (Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Laboratory will be set up in Faisalabad with an estimated cost of Rs 500 million. Addressing a meeting of the Faisalabad Chamber of commerce and Industry (FCCI) here Monday, he said that this lab is expected to be completed by June next year while a PCSIR sample collection centre will also start working from next month.
He said that PCSR has 16 institutes throughout the country out of which 09 are conducting research while remaining seven are imparting technical training to different sectors with the objective to upgrade the local industry on modern scientific lines. Regarding the new testing lab at Faisalabad, he said that no doubt predominantly it will cater to the needs of textile industry but it would also look after the R&D issues of foundry, pharmaceutical and other industries housed in this area. He told that during this visit, he will also select appropriate site for this lab in addition to making the necessary arrangements for its immediate construction.
Regarding sample collection center, he said that it could be established at FCCI Complex. He invited FCCI delegation to personally visit Lahore lab to review the facilities offered by this lab which would also help them in making the Faisalabad centre more effective, productive and result oriented. He told that PCSIR labs are now conducting 395 different types of tests along with their certification which are also accredited and are recognised at international level. This certification is offered at a much cheaper rate to facilitate the local exporters, he said and admitted that henceforth, PCSIR could not give due attention to Faisalabad. However, now he has decided to focus on the R&D issues related to the industrial sector of Faisalabad and the PCSIR lab will also extend wide range of facilities with the purpose to fulfil the entire R&D needs of the local industries.
Responding to a question about energy shortage, Chairman PCSIR Dr Shahzad Alam said that this prime research organisation has developed two kinds of cheap fuels which could be used for heating purposes. However, he stressed the need to concentrate on prudent use of electricity and said that most of the electrical gadgets imported from China are sub-standard. They are not energy efficient; he claimed that by improving the quality of these products, we can save 25-30 percent of electricity. He told that PCSIR has inked agreements with four fan companies of Gujrat to market energy efficient fans from next year.