Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority
{{Short description|Autonomous government agency}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox government agency
|name = Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)
|native_name_a =
|nativename_r = {{nastaliq|مختاریہَ پاکستان برائے انضباطِ کیفیات و معیارات}}
|logo = Pakistan_Standards_and_Quality_Control_Authority_Logo.jpg
|logo_width =
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|seal =
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|formed = 1996
|preceding1 =
|dissolved =
|superseding =
|jurisdiction =
|headquarters = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
|chief1_name =
|chief1_position =
|website = {{URL|psqca.com.pk}}
|footnotes =
}}
The Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA; {{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|مختاریہَ پاکستان برائے انضباطِ کیفیات و معیارات}}}}) is an autonomous body subordinate to the ministry of science and technology of the Government of Pakistan. Its main objective is to regulate and enforce quality standards in Pakistan. Anything that is certified by the PSQCA is issued the Pakistan Standards (PS) label.
History
The PSQCA was formed through the passage of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1996 by the Parliament of Pakistan.[https://fp.brecorder.com/2016/10/2016101593598/ Pakistan Standards And Quality Control Authority: The Sole National Standards Body of Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016183935/https://fp.brecorder.com/2016/10/2016101593598/ |date=16 October 2021 }} Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 15 October 2016, Retrieved 3 September 2020{{Cite web |url=http://psqca.com.pk/about/psqca.htm |title=PSQCA - About PSQCA |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222055448/http://www.psqca.com.pk/about/psqca.htm |url-status=live }}[https://fp.brecorder.com/2011/10/201110141242107/ Role of Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority in International Standardisation in Pakistan supporting Global Trade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016183946/https://fp.brecorder.com/2011/10/201110141242107/ |date=16 October 2021 }} Business Recorder (newspaper), Published 14 October 2011, Retrieved 3 September 2020
On Feb 16, 2022, the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology approved transfer of head office of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to Islamabad from Karachi.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-16|title=Govt approves shifting of PSQCA head office to Islamabad|url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/02/16/govt-approves-shifting-of-psqca-head-office-to-islamabad/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=Profit by Pakistan Today|language=en-US}}
Organization
The Authority is composed of the following four departments:{{Cite web |url=http://psqca.com.pk/about/components.htm |title=PSQCA - About PSQCA |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222055432/http://www.psqca.com.pk/about/components.htm |url-status=live }}
= Standards Development Center =
The Directorate of Standards, also known as Standards Development Centre, SDC is responsible for the development of Pakistan Standards, adoption of International Standards by consensus involving Stakeholders (manufacturers, government and regulatory bodies, consumers, scientists and technologists, academia and testing laboratories) through its technical divisions.{{cite web |title=SDC |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/standardization/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}}
== Organization ==
SDC has 177 Technical Committees along with 12 technical divisions. Technical divisions are:
- Agriculture and Food Division{{cite web |title=Agriculture and Food |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/standardization/division/agriculture-and-food/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}}
- Automobile Division (formed; 2014){{cite web |title=Automobile |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/standardization/division/automobile/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}}
- Chemical Division
- Civil Division
- Electrical Division
- Electronics Division
- Halaal Division
- Information Technology (IT) and Information Communication Technology (ICT), Division
- Management Standards System (MSS)
- Mechanical Division
- Textile Division
- Weights & Measure Division
== Achievements ==
= Quality Control Center =
The Quality Control Centre (QCC) is a multifunctional testing laboratory which test quality of food, building materials (cement), papers & textiles, sugar, Microbiology, beverages and Water. QCC is organized in six sections.{{cite web |title=Quality Control Center |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/quality-control-center/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}} It can test 107 different items, including 38 food, 28 electrical, 02 auto vehicles, 03 animal feed, 3 textile, 14 civil/building materials, 6 washing/cosmetics, 2 steel, 9 chemical division and 4 fertilizer items.{{cite web |title=QCC Testing Capabilities |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/quality-control-center/qcc-testing-capabilities/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}}
== History ==
The formal Central Testing Laboratory merged into Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority under Act VI of 1996, after the Promulgation of the Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority and was renamed as Quality Control Centre.
In 2014, all labs of Quality Control Centre(QCC Karachi) i.e. Microbiology, Water & beverages lab, Sugar Lab, Oil & Fats and Building Material (Cement) Lab were accredited.
== Organization ==
Quality control centers are located at Karachi (with chemical, microbiology and physical sections), Lahore (chemical, microbiology and physical sections), Peshawar (chemical, microbiology and physical sections) and Quetta (chemical section).{{cite web |title=Structure Of QCC |url=http://updated.psqca.com.pk/quality-control-center/structure-of-qcc/ |website=PSQCA |access-date=23 October 2021}}
= Technical Services Center =
= System Certifications Center =
International activities
= Affiliations =
PSQCA is a member of the following international organizations:{{Cite web |url=http://psqca.com.pk/about/global-membership.htm |title=PSQCA - About PSQCA |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222055849/http://www.psqca.com.pk/about/global-membership.htm |url-status=live }}
= Relations with foreign nations and organisation =
PSQCA has memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with following countries:
- {{flag|Algeria}}
- {{flag|Morocco}}
- {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
- {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
PSQCA has established relations with following organizations:
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://psqca.com.pk PSQCA official website]
- [http://most.gov.pk Ministry of Science and Technology]
{{Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan)}}{{International Organization for Standardization}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority}}
Category:Regulatory authorities of Pakistan
Category:Government agencies established in 1996