November 15, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 28, 1422

LAHORE, Nov 14: The federal government has given a go ahead signal for the establishment of the first local ISO-9000 and ISO-14000 certification body, it has been learnt.

The sources said that the European accredited firm, Iqra Cert, would start its country-wide operations from early next year.

In the field of quality and environment management systems (ISO-9000 and ISO-14000), more than 200 certification bodies were operating in the world, they said. Out of these around 20 had their presence in Pakistan through their own offices or agents and representatives, they added.

So far no Pakistani company was authorized to undertake these services, they said, alleging the foreign companies had been issuing ISO-9000 certificates, related to quality control, and ISO-14000 certificates, related to environment management, without following the proper procedure and documentation.

This could have harmed the country’s exports had the importers of foreign countries learnt about the irregularities in the issue of these certificates, they said.

“Realizing this need and with the patronage of business community, a few Pakistani quality experts of this field have established a certification body to end monopoly of the foreign firms,” they said.