ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: Pakistan is losing Rs622 million annually due to absence of laws on quality standards in different sectors, said Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) Director Dr M Farooq.

He was presiding over a round-table meeting on "Standards Connect the World" in connection with the 25th World Standards Day. The event was organized by the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP).

The meeting was held to deliberate on the problems Pakistan was facing in the absence of proper laws to improve quality of goods and services. "Pakistan's failure is reflected in not being able to ensure quality of cotton.

Now the international markets do not approve of the high pesticide residual contents in cloth produced by Pakistan. An international standard has been set which allows minimal pesticide residual contents in cloth or other items made from cotton produced by any country. Developing countries such as Pakistan will now pay the price," Dr Farooq said.

Participants were also apprehensive of the future challenges Pakistan was likely to face if immediate steps were not initiated to improve quality of goods and services. "Ban on or decrease in demand of Pakistani cloth can have a devastating impact on the cotton industry.

There have been numerous meetings on standards certification internationally, and not once Pakistan has been represented in these meetings," Dr Farooq maintained.

He called for setting standards to ensure quality and reliability of products. Setting standards did not only benefit consumers, but also the producers. CRCP Executive Coordinator Mukhtar Ali said setting standards was vital for protecting environment, and ensuring safety and durability as well as uniformity of products.

"But people are continuously denied quality goods and services. And state intervention is non existent combined with lack of will to carry out checks to ensure rights of the people," said Mr Ali.

Former president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohsin Khalid said standardization was market driven and customer oriented. There is lack of will on part of the government institutions to enforce quality standards. And this will continue as long as the market here is not quality conscience, he said.