The nature has blessed Pakistan with good human and land resources, placing it amongst the top 10 countries of the world in terms of agricultural potential. It has a vast cultivable area, various ecological zones, sufficient water resources, abundant sunshine, four seasons and, above all, hard working people.

Given a plentiful of these resources, agriculture naturally remains the single largest sector of Pakistan's economy, employing some 50 per cent of its labour force and contributing, directly or indirectly, approximately 80 per cent to the total foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Though about 80 per cent of the country's farmers have small land-holdings and, for want of resources, they are constrained to use primitive and defective production processes and techniques, Pakistan has emerged as one of the prominent producers of food, fibre, fruits and vegetables in the world.

Despite the fact that a chunk of the country's produce leaks to the neighbouring states through its porous borders, Pakistan enjoys near autarky in food.

Pakistan produces one of the best varieties of rice which is universally acclaimed for its aroma and good taste. It produces 10 per cent of the total world production of cotton.

The country's textile sector, based on indigenous cotton, has a share of 68 per cent in the total exports. Pakistan is the fifth top producer of the world in mangoes and dates, while its kinno is rated among the best citrus fruits of the world as far as the taste is concerned.

But, still Pakistan's gross domestic product and, in particular, its exports, are not commensurate to its economic potential, which can be vouched from even a cursory look at some of the factors outlined below.

Pakistan produces some 10 per cent of the world's total cotton, but it has a share of two per cent only in the global cotton trade. There are apprehensions that if the country does not adopt and strictly follow the international quality standards, its share in the global trade may erode following adoption, in January 2005, of the WTO standards as a vast majority of its small growers are least quality conscious.

They neither ensure clean picking of cotton nor maintain its moisture content within the permissible limits. Their produce, therefore, becomes infested with fungus. Even at the seaport, the cotton bales remain in the open for a fortnight and in some cases even for longer periods with the result that the moisture content and consequently also the weight of the consignment increases.

Till recently, as more weight meant more money, the weight had hitherto remained an obsession both with the growers and the exporters. A new-comer to the export sector might have felt a bit elated at the increase in weight, but when the produce was passed through dehumidifiers in foreign lands, the weight of the consignment decreased drastically, which led to disputes and ultimately resulted in credibility erosion and loss of client/trade.

Pakistani mangoes are acclaimed the world over because of their good aroma, excellent taste and almost total absence of fibre content. But, the country exports less than six per cent of its annual production of 0.91 million tonnes of mangoes for $ 165 million approximately; while 40 per cent of the mangoes produced in the country never reach the market due to spoilage and poor handling.

The situation is not much different when one looks at the export of dates, which remain less then 11 per cent of their total production. Likewise, the country could do much better in rice and substantially increase its export earnings if it could increase the yield, reduce the cost of production and market the crop more scientifically.

Though Pakistan earns $220 to $250 million annually from the export of honey and a fairly substantial amount from the export of vegetables, poultry and animals, experts believe that the earnings from this sector could be improved by following the grading, better packing and innovative marketing techniques.

According to the Planning Commission, Pakistan loses about Rs100 billion annually because a majority of its farmers were still using primitive farming techniques and inefficient technological practices. The country can easily curtail these losses by adopting modern techniques of sowing, harvesting, irrigation, grading, packing and marketing.

Further, the headway that Pakistan had made in industry, at least during the first decade of its independence, was only possible because of agriculture. Fortunately, as mentioned above, there exists a great potential to further improve the production level in the agriculture sector, and also the export earnings by marketing abroad the quantity of agricultural produce over and above the national requirements. But, we can reap the bonanza only if the country succeeds in improving the quality, productivity and credibility, earns brand recognition and markets its products in a more scientific way.

In fact, quality, productivity and credibility has become a sine qua non for success in the present era, which is marked by severe competition and where fast emerging global trade environment promotes harmonization of standards and lays emphasis on third party certification of goods and services through internationally accredited and recognized systems.

Given the situation, standards, testing, calibration and accreditation, as per international requirements, are increasingly becoming a hallmark of the international trade, while non-compliance with international standards of quality, environment and health are acting as barriers to foreign trade.

Since Pakistan's trade is, by and large, in the private sector all stakeholders' concerned agencies of the government, exporters, traders, growers and others will henceforth be required to play their role in increasing the productivity and quality so that their produce remains competitive and the nation reaps benefits commensurate with the actual potential in various fields of economic activity.

Cognizant of the emerging challenges of globalization, Pakistan has taken several steps. Among others, these include establishment of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC).

Of these, PNAC certifies and grants accreditation to laboratories, in various fields and disciplines, which conform to the national or international quality standards.

PNAC's accreditation services also aim at improving the competitiveness and capability of clients by carrying out specific tasks related to conformity assessment in accordance with ISO Guides, national, regional or international standards.

The setting-up of both these organizations had become a paramount need since, in the post-2004 era, lack of accredited testing, calibration and certification facilities could have a negative impact on the exports of any country, including Pakistan.

All stakeholders, therefore, need to prepare themselves for facing the globalization challenges. It is the call of the hour to promptly strengthen, upgrade and prepare the country's laboratories and other conformity assessment agencies, both in the public and private sector, to secure accreditation to international standards and a share in the international trade commensurate with the potential of the country.