CRCP believes
that people have a right to safe quality goods and services, whereas they
are being provided with items of low or substandard quality. Unfortunately,
there does not exist relevant laws and institutional arrangements for ensuring
the quality. In view of this grave situation, CRCP has devised a comprehensive
campaign for the formulation and implementation of quality standards. In
this regard, it is worthy of mention that it was due to the efforts of CRCP
that Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) was established.
In fact, Pakistan Standards Institutions (PSI), which was the predecessor
of PSQCA, was dissolved by a government ordinance, and in its place PSQCA
was to be established. However, after the lapse of four years the Authority
could not be put in place. CRCP entered in extensive engagement with the
Ministry of Science and Technology, wrote to the Minister Dr. Ata-ur-Rahman
and pressed for the establishment of the Authority. Eventually, the Authority
was set up in the year 2000. Up till now, CRCP has been engaged with PSQCA,
PSI, which has been merged in PSQCA, and Pakistan National Accreditation
Council to formulate and implement minimum quality standards. Focus of this
engagement is on the consumer items, which are of common use and involve
significant health or safety hazards.
In September
2002, CRCP reviewed Proposed
Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules 2002,
of NEPRA.