The Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC) has approved the country’s first-ever safety standards for the auto sector including helmets for motorcycle riders.
With the approval by CCLC the auto sector safety standards including electric vehicles (EVs) would be forwarded to the Federal Cabinet for ratification, eventually leading to their implementation.
The auto companies claim to follow Japanese standards, but there is no standard and clear definition of helmets for motorcycle riders. The auto sector, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industries, has been advocating that the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) which is currently authorized to inspect and certify 166 food and non-food items, is needed to first develop labs and expertise to check the quality of parts.
However, an official of the PSQCA told Dawnthat the safety standards developed by the authority are very close to the Japanese standards. The official said:
“Pakistan needs to move forward and the move will eventually compel authorities to develop relevant labs in PSQCA.”
The CCLC has approved the standards for 8 components of locally manufactured vehicles developed by PSQCA in consultation with other stakeholders and government departments. These include Child Restraint System (PS:5574 and PS:5575), Safety Belts (PS:5578 and PS:5579), Airbags (PS:5576), Electric PowerTrain for EVs (PS:5550 and PS:5551) and Helmet for Riders (PS:1402).
Three different ministries were at odds over the safety standards for the auto sector including the Engineering Development Board (EDB), an arm of the Ministry of Industries, the Ministry of Climate Change over the subject of carbon emissions and the Ministry of Science and Technology as the quality standards are implemented by its subordinate department, the PSQCA.
The manufacturing sector is the domain of the Ministry of Industries, and EDB was under pressure from the auto industry over granting the responsibility to certify the quality of parts manufactured locally. Due to differences of opinion, the PSQCA was facing hurdles in developing national standards for auto vehicles being manufactured/ assembled locally.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
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