Norway to continue support for capacity building

ISLAMABAD—Norway would continue to assist Pakistan in capacity building and launching accreditation system in new fields under the project "Support to capacity building and good governance of Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC)". It was stated by Mr. Torleif Hauge ,Director General, Norwegian Accreditation (NA) while talking to Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology Mr. Pervez Butt in a meeting here on Tuesday.
Currently a two member Norwegian delegation headed by DG, NA is on a three days visit to Pakistan to discuss the progress made on the said project and plan the future activities. Two & half year back PNAC & NA developed a project under which NA assisted in capacity building and launching of Proficiency Testing (PT) schemes in Pakistan.
Mr. Torleif Hauge expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the project and said that it has gone very well and relations between the two accreditation bodies are exemplary. He said that PNAC is now in a position to launch national level PT schemes in Pakistan as well as in the region and the purpose of capacity building has successfully been achieved in selected disciplines.
It would harmonize accreditation practices in Pakistan, he said and added that it would also promote quality culture that provide opportunities for business and export. He hoped that it will enable PNAC to join Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Mr. Torleif Hauge also informed that a regulation has already been submitted for approval of the European Union parliament to make accreditation mandatory for trade among the European nations as the union is placing increasing importance on accreditation as a tool to prove competence.
This regulation will have tremendous effect on trade activities in Europe. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary MoST thanked Norwegian Accreditation and Norway government for their continuous support and cooperation to Pakistan in capacity building. Secretary also requested that Norway should extend its support in oceanographic research project. Senior officials of the ministry and DG PNAC attended the meeting. Both side have prepared a framework for the 2nd phase of the project.