The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Tuesday raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s weakening quality assurance and product testing system, questioning why the government continues to rely heavily on costly private laboratories instead of strengthening the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
The meeting, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, was informed by the Secretary for Science and Technology that products cleared by PSQCA in some cases still require re-testing abroad, raising questions about the credibility of domestic certification.
Lawmakers criticised the current system in which industries reportedly pay up to Rs. 50,000 per test to private labs, arguing that such dependence reflects the failure of state-run testing infrastructure. They questioned the relevance of public laboratories if the private sector is effectively performing the regulatory role at high cost.
Members also highlighted structural weaknesses within PSQCA, noting that the authority lacks direct enforcement power to impose on-the-spot fines. Instead, violation cases must be forwarded to magistrates, a process they said significantly slows down regulatory action and weakens compliance.
The committee sought detailed records of enforcement activity, including the number of factories sealed and penalties imposed for violations of quality standards.
Concerns were also raised over the quality of solar panels in the market, with lawmakers reporting repeated defects and substandard manufacturing practices. The chair directed officials to expedite the installation and operationalisation of modern testing facilities.
Officials informed the committee that the Pakistan–Korea Solar Module Testing Laboratory has now become fully operational and extended an invitation for members to inspect the facility.
The session concluded with strong criticism of the overall regulatory framework, with lawmakers warning that weak enforcement and unreliable quality control systems are eroding investor confidence and undermining industrial standards across the country.
