Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, has apprised that in a detailed meeting with the newly-appointed Director General of Pakistan Standards& Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the apex body of the trade & industry has raised the longstanding & unresolved issues vis-à-vis Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs).
Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh highlighted that tyre, aluminum and steel producers have been promised the resolution of their issues by PSQCA, time and again; stressing upon the need to deal differentiation & standardization of raw materials and finished products separately.
FPCCI Chief emphasized that the tyre industry in the country should be fully facilitated and incentivized. It is one of the major industries in the country that can play a major role in import substitution as 80 percent demand of tyres in the country is still met by imports; and, as a matter of fact, domestic producers of tyres can aggressively expand their production and promote import substitution, provided the right policy is formulated.
Engr. M. A. Jabbar, VP FPCCI, demanded that, being the apex body of quality control in the country, PSQCA should regulate food, edible oil and RO plants; which have become a major source of ever-increasing health hazards for a country of 230.1 million. PSQCA should establish its writ and save the masses from sub-standard products in general and consumables in particular, he added.
Mir Ghulam Farooq Langove, DG PSQCA, assured the business community that he will be embarking on a proactive approach towards the resolution of issues; and preference would be given to the pending cases. He added that officers of PSQCA should provide facilitation to the businesses & traders on the doorstep to cut down turnaround times.
DG PSQCA vowed that the sellers of sub-standard, counterfeit and unhygienic products will be dealt in accordance with law; in association with the local administration and provincial & federal governments. PSQCA’s regional offices will be activated and supported to enhance their performance & ensuring stricter quality controls in the country, he added.
DG PSQCA agreed, in principle, that his institution will be working with regional offices of FPCCI to create an enabling environment for the industry in the smaller centers and cities to receive PSQCA services – making PSQCA come to them, rather than making them reach the federal authority for the resolution of their issues.