KARACHI, May 4: The number of ISO-9000 certified export-oriented companies in Sialkot has reached to 876, thus breaking the domination of Karachi having 630 companies now.

ISO certified companies in Lahore enjoys third position with 459 followed by 141 units in Faisalabad, 58 companies in Islamabad and 44 companies in Multan, principal consultant, Total Quality Management and Expert Cell of the FPCCI and senior partner of Quest Technologies, Waqas Muslim told Dawn.

He said Karachi industries and exporters used to enjoy an edge over other a year back.

As many as 2,700 companies have acquired various versions of ISO-9000 certificates so far. Out of 2,700 companies, 1,332 companies have got the ISO-9002 certificate, followed by 825 companies with ISO-9000 certificate, 328 companies with ISO-9001 certificate, 19 companies with ISO-14000 certificate and 10 companies with ISO-14001 certificate, he said.

Out of 27 prominent sectors — textile (spinning, weaving and processing) enjoys top position as 722 companies have so far acquired the quality certificate followed by 445 units of surgical and dental instruments, 194 of sports goods and apparels, 174 of engineering and manufacturing, 118 of professional services, 113 of food and beverages, 162 of leather manufacturers and exporters, 57 of chemicals, 71 of pharmaceuticals, 52 of mail packaging freight and delivery, 43 of engineering and construction, 84 of apparel and garments, 38 of electrical and electronic goods, 20 of information technology, 28 of petrochemicals, 23 of printing and publishing, 22 of rubber and plastic products, 21 of engineering service, 26 of motor vehicles and parts etc.

Waqas said that Pakistani exporters and industrialists in the past five years have realized that the quality and environmental certificates are the only reliable tool for their products to make their presence felt in the world markets. In 1998, there were 131 companies, which grew to 625 companies in 1999 followed by 1,600 companies in 2000.

He said in the last one-and-a-half-month exporters and industries have been facing problems in getting ISO grant or subsidy from the Ministry of Science and Technology as fire in Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, Islamabad in the second week of March, had destroyed records and cases of exporters.

The ministry had requested the exporters to provide photocopies of their papers and reconstruct their records pertaining to ISO-9000 and ISO-14000 certification.

He added that the delay in getting ISO grants may result in slowdown of getting more ISO certificates by the prospective exporters and manufacturers.