PSQCA lacks basic technical infrastructure to test vehicle on international standards

KARACHI: The Pakistan Standard & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has nothing basic technical infrastructures required to even test a vehicle on international standards.

This was disclosed by Director General Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) in a letter sent to Federal minister for Industry and Production Hammad Azhar on April 18.

PAMA said, “PSQCA as an organisation has serious personnel and technical capacity issues and lacks the very basic technical infrastructure required to even test a vehicle on international standards.” “PSQCA systems and manpower are pitched in crumbling old setting which needs to be modernized and upgraded,” he added.

Despite passage of 30 years, the PSQCA did not upgrade it as on international standards he said adding that when the question came to have standards for the four wheelers, it agreed to have trained manpower and also to have requisite testing facilities. PSQCA would be meaningless to have vehicle standards without having testing facilities put in place, the letter added.

The underlying eagerness at the PSQCA is apparently to extend their coercive powers and controls on the industry and also to collect Marking Fee, which they expect is going to be a hefty sum, it added.

Therefore, besides testing facilities, PAMA plea to the PSQCA was also to align itself with such standards and to join the work being set in motion by the ministry of industries/EDB. So far we are out of luck in convincing PSQCA or its controlling ministry for the opportunity to have international standards instead of local standards perhaps, as the respective law, the PSOCA Act, they feel unconstrained in the matter, PAMA said in a letter.

Another important aspect of the matter is the law on the subject: the PSQCA Act 1996. This 24-year-old act was made when most of the industry was evolving and there was then no auto industry in the country. Further, the said act was formed on lines of old laws with unlimited powers vested in the hands of lordly inspectors without regard to changes of systems and business models taken place in the period, in between. Therefore, there is need to revise and bring this old act to suit to the modern conditions and also incorporate the legitimate views of all the stakeholders, PAMA said.

Surely, these are compelling issues that the industry is facing as it constantly receives worrisome notices from the authorities while our only plea to PSQCA is to have international standards under UN/ECE WP 29 and have requisite infrastructure for testing in accordance with same.

About The Author