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STAFF REPORT KHI: Micronutrient Initiative (MI) and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) have signed an agreement to establish six quality control laboratories across Pakistan. The lack of adequate testing facilities for food items in laboratories is a major problem that leads to food insecurity. The situation has to be reversed to ensure the food security.
PSQCA Director General Dr Barkat Saeed Memon and MI Country Director Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua signed the agreement.
According to the agreement, MI will provide apparatus to PSQCA for establishment of laboratories for salt iodisation in order to enhance the laboratory facilities for testing the iodine content in edible salt. The capacity building initiatives will be jointly launched to train the staff for performing different laboratory test and its analysis.
Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua said while commenting on the agreement, “This is breakthrough advancement in Quality and assessment procedures and will account for various laboratory and technical issues that are still existing and hurting the food security. The adequate laboratory facilities will be beneficial in quality assurance of edibles”.
This agreement will encourage both organizations to effectively adapt standards and conformity assessment procedures with respect to products, processes and services. The corporate sector will get useful technical assistance and information about standards and conformity assessment procedures.