Compliance with Global Quality Requirements in Pakistan’s Export Sector
Keywords:
Global quality standards, exports, compliance, Pakistan.Abstract
This paper describes the level of compliance with quality standards in relation to Pakistan’s top export product categories. With greater competition, innovations in technology, and stricter measures of quality being enforced, Pakistan needs to adopt a holistic, systematic approach to not just meeting, but also exceeding, international quality standards and certifications for its exports. Focusing on rice and textiles, we identify which compliance-related gaps need to be filled to ensure the sustainable growth of high-quality exports to major global markets. The study outlines the key dimensions of international quality standards as well as specific standards and requirements for textiles and rice, examines the quality assurance infrastructure in Pakistan, and presents policy recommendations.
References
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association. (2014). Pakistan textile statistics. Retrieved from http://www.aptma.org.pk/Pak_Textile_Statistics/repo.asp
ASTM International. (2014). ASTM International: Standards worldwide. Available from http://www.astm.org/
British Standards Institute. (2014). Standards, training, testing, assessment, and certification. Available from http://www.bsigroup.com
Codex Alimentarius Commission. (1996). Codex Alimentarius: Cereals, pulses, legumes and derived products and vegetable proteins (vol. 7, pp. 53–60). Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization.
European Committee for Standardization. (2014). European Committee for Standardization. Available from http://www.cen.eu
Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. (2004, October). Second FAO/WHO global forum of food safety regulators: Building effective food safety systems. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/008/y5871e/y5871e00.pdf
International Electrotechnical Commission. (2014). Welcome to the IEC. Available from http://www.iec.ch
International Organization for Standardization. (n.d.). ISO – International Organization for Standardization. Available from http://www.iso.org
Pakistan, Ministry of Finance. (2012). Pakistan economic survey 2011–2012. Islamabad: Author.
Pakistan, Ministry of Finance. (2013). Pakistan economic survey 2012–2013. Islamabad: Author.
Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority. (n.d.). Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority. Retrieved from http://www.psqca.com.pk/NEP/%5B10%5D%20Laboratories%20in%20Pakistan%20i.htm
Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority. (n.d.). Compliance with international standards (Guidelines for textile industry). Lahore: Author.
Technological Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. (2014). TAPPI. Available from http:// www.tappi.org
World Bank. (2014). World development indicators [Database]. Available from http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators
