20000317

American quality

institute plans

courses in Pakistan

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Quality Institute of America (QIA) plans to launch QIA quality management courses in Pakistan.

This was stated at an ISO conference which was organised by Oceanic Surveyors, (OS) Karachi to introduce QIA, Houston, USA, at the Federation House here early this week.

The conference was attended by top executives of various companies and representatives of trade associations, PCSIR, British Council, PSI, FPCCI and various private and government organisations.

Asad-ur-Rehman Khan, of Oceanic Surveyors, spoke on the future programmes of OS and QIA in Pakistan and their strategies to improve their present ISO and management consulting programmes. Minhaj Khan, President, Q2Q Consultants, Canada, highlighted in detail ISO 9000 standards and how globalisation was affecting quality movement in big as well as small organisations and how adoption of ISO standards to become more competitive by improving their present quality standards.

Wali Alam, President, QIA, gave detailed information about consulting training and auditing programmes of QIA in USA, Canada and some other parts of the world. The QIA management training and ISO auditing programmes are fully accredited to IRCA/IATCA. Now all these courses will be arranged by OS in Pakistan at a very competitive course fee keeping in consideration local conditions.

Dr. Nabil Lutfi, Technological Adviser, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, highlighted in detail the ISO 9000/14000 incentive programmes of Government of Pakistan and explained in detail the procedures and requirements of this incentive programme.

He also gave satisfactory replies to the questions raised by the representatives of various companies and associations. He also highlighted in detail the role and performance of his ministry in the promotion of quality concept and adoption of ISO standards in Pakistan. He said that so far the government had given special grant for ISO certification amounting to Rs. 30.70 million to 197 companies whereas they had approved the cases of 350 companies and more than 800 companies were in the process. The ministry has also registered 40 ISO consultants and 15 certification bodies so far.

In the end Capt. Khalil ur Rehman Khan, Chairman, OS, Karachi thanked the guests for attending and making the conference a success.