PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) certification incentive scheme, will extend financial support from Rs100,000 to Rs400,000 to small industries for accreditation and approval of their manufacturing products.

The PCSIR will also arrange training programmes for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector for provision of international standards and certification. This was stated during a visit of the PCSIR team, led by its director general Irfan Ahmad Rabbani, to the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday. The team held a meeting with the chamber’s president Zahidullah Khan Shinwari and other senior businessmen, according to a press release.

The chamber’s chief appreciated the MoST’s initiative for certification incentive scheme for the development of SMEs sector. He hoped that the scheme would ensure provision of facilities to SMEs and small industries, and other business institutions like quality management system, environmental management, occupational health and safety assessment system, food safety management, energy management system, food safety and good manufacturing along with 25 other standards and certifications.

On this occasion, Mr Rabbani informed the businessmen about the certification incentive for development of SMEs sector. He highlighted the role of PCSIR and facilities which were being provided to institutions related to trade and industry. The PCSIR chief explained the procedure of certification scheme, according to which, he said that a grant of Rs100,000 to Rs400,000 would be extended to small industries and institutions.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2018