Pakistan, an Overview
Organizations across all sectors highly prefer ISO certification in Pakistan. Companies must maintain consistency in their business operations and provide good services or products.
Pakistan, an Overview:
ISO Certification Business Scope in Pakistan
ISO certification holds significant value in Pakistan's diverse industries, signifying a commitment to international quality standards and management best practices. The major industrial cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, are all part of this global quality commitment. For instance, Faisalabad is renowned for its textile production. At the same time, Sialkot is a hub for sports goods, cutlery, and surgical instruments.
The scope of ISO certification in Pakistan is vast, encompassing a wide range of sectors, including:
- 1. Manufacturing Industries: This covers ISO standards, including ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety, ISO 9001 for quality management systems, and ISO 14001 for environmental management systems. These standards are usually implemented in manufacturing companies.
- 2. Services Sector: Businesses like banking, insurance, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and hospitality benefit from ISO certifications, such as ISO 27001 for Information Security Management, which ensures data security and service quality.
- 3. Textile and Apparel Industry: Pakistan is a well-known brand in the business world and is heavily involved in the textile and clothing industries. In addition to the regular standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001, ISO certifications for social compliance standards like SEDEX, EcoVadis, and WRAP and supply chain security like CT PAT are prevalent.
- 4. Construction and Engineering: ISO standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 are crucial in the construction industry for quality management, safety protocols, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
- 5. Food and Agriculture: A well-known food processing and agricultural enterprise that seeks to guarantee food safety, hygiene, and compliance with national and international requirements is ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management Systems.
- 6. IT and Software Development: Companies in the IT sector often pursue certifications like ISO 20000 (IT Service Management) and ISO 27001 to enhance service delivery, data security, and customer confidence.
- 7. Education and Training: ISO 21001 (Educational Organizations Management Systems) is becoming relevant for educational institutions aiming to improve academic quality, operational efficiency, and student satisfaction in addition to the Quality management system standard for ISO 9001:2015
The scope of ISO certification in Pakistan is expanding daily as companies recognize the benefits of applying global best practices. This growth is driven by the desire to enhance reputation, improve operations, meet legal requirements, and gain a competitive edge.
The Pakistani government is actively involved in standardizing processes to align with global standards. These initiatives are aimed at making Pakistani businesses more competitive in the modern world.
Almost all mainstream international ISO certification bodies, such as SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, TUV Nord, DNV, BSI, and TUV Apex, have local offices in Pakistan.
Accreditation Bodies in Pakistan
PNAC (Pakistan National Accreditation Council) is the national accreditation body of Pakistan & IAF Member. It provides accreditation services for ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management SystemsSystems, ISO 45001:2018 for Health & Safety Management Systems, ISO 22000:2018 / HACCP for Food Safety Management Systems, ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems, ISO 22301 for business continuity. However, international accreditation bodies like UKAS, Jas-Anz, and DAKKS are also viral because of export-oriented businesses in Pakistan.
How to Select ISO Certification Body in Pakistan
When selecting an ISO certification body in Pakistan for your company's ISO certification audit, be sure to follow these steps:
- Ensure the ISO certification body is MLA signed by the IAF and accredited by PNAC or a respectable international accreditation body member. Visit the Accreditation body's website and check the accreditation body's directory to confirm the accreditation status of the ISO certification body.
- Request the certification body to provide their accreditation certificate. Verify that the ISO certification body is authorized for the appropriate ISO certification scheme and the ISO Certification scope (NACE codes) that apply to your company. You can also check the accreditation certificates of the ISO certification body on the accreditation body's website
- Request a sample certificate from the ISO certification authority, which will be awarded following successful qualification. Ensure the ISO certificate has the logos of the Accreditation Body and IAF. If you notice any other logos, be cautious, as it could indicate a potentially untrustworthy ISO certification mill issuing certificates for money-making purposes.
- Remember that ISO certification is generally granted for three years, starting with the original certification and continuing through the first and second yearly surveillance assessments. Three years later, recertification is completed for the following cycle.
- Be wary of ISO certification bodies requesting payment for all three years upfront. This practice goes against accreditation body requirements. Payment should be made initially for the initial certification and each surveillance audit. Paying upfront may reduce the certification body's motivation to conduct thorough audits, contrary to accreditation regulations.
- If you encounter any doubts or uncertainties, officially communicate with the ISO certification body for clarification. Suppose the ISO certification body needs to provide satisfactory responses or explanations. In that case, you can escalate the matter to their accreditation body for appropriate action.
Following these guidelines will help ensure that you select a reputable ISO certification body in Pakistan that adheres to international standards and practices, providing credible certification for your organization.
Benefits of being an ISO-Certified company in Pakistan:
- Opening up global trade opportunities
- Enhanced brand value
- Improved operational performance
- Cost savings
- Expanded market share
- Access to new markets
- Additional system validation layer
- Environmental advantages
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
- Contribution to global warming mitigation efforts
- Integration into the global economy
- Enhanced brand reputation for social responsibility
ISO Certification in Pakistan through Qdot.
International Standards provide substantial technological, economic, and societal benefits. They enhance the technical specifications of products and services, increasing industry productivity and efficiency. By eliminating barriers, they also facilitate international trade. Certification builds trust among stakeholders, customers, competitors, suppliers, employees, and investors by showcasing adherence to internationally recognized and valued best practices and enhancing organizational systems.
Qdot provides the ISO consultancy services below to help you get an ISO Certificate in Pakistan.
What is the price of ISO Certification in Pakistan?
The cost of ISO Certification in Pakistan depends on several factors, including the type of business, the organization's size, the number of business locations, and the number of ISO standards selected for certification.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS:
For ease of understanding, we classified our management system consultancy services, which led to certification in different clusters. These clusters are briefed as mentioned below,
QHSE Standards: ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 45001:2018 (Health & Safety Management System)
Food Standards: HACCP, ISO 22000:2018 (Food Safety System), FSSC 22000, BRC GS, HALAL, Organic Certification, USDA-NOP and EU Organic Certification
Perfumes & Cosmetics: ISO 22716:20017 (GMP)
Social Compliance: SEDEX-SMETA Certification, Worldly Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), SA 8000 (Social Accountability), ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility), EcoVadis
Supply Chain Security: ISO 28000 (Supply Chain Security Management System), CTPAT (Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS:
These are ISO accreditation standards and had to be directly accredited by the national accreditation body of the relevant country, i.e., EIAC (UAE), UKAS (UK), Jas-Anz (Australia & New-Zeland), ANAB (America), DAKKS (Germany), PNAC (Pakistan).
Qdot has excellent experience working on these ISO accreditation standards, which include,
ISO 17020 is the accreditation standard for inspection bodies. It is a mandatory requirement for inspection bodies operating in the UAE to get accredited by EIAC.
ISO 17025: Accreditation standard for Testing & calibration laboratories. It is a mandatory requirement for Testing & calibrations labs operating in the UAE to get themself accredited by EIAC or ENAS (Emirates National Accreditation System) in case they are operating in Abu Dhabi.
ISO 17021 is the accreditation standard for ISO Certification bodies. It is a mandatory requirement for ISO Certification Bodies operating in the UAE to get themselves accredited by EIAC as their national accreditation body.
OTHER ISO STANDARDS: Qdot also has consultancy expertise in other off-beat, sector-specific standards. These standards are rare in the market, and finding a good consultancy organization that you can trust is challenging.
Qdot has expertise in following sector-specific standards;
ISO 50001: Energy Management System
ISO 55001: Asset Management System
ISO 16949: Quality Management System for Automobile Industry
ISO 37001: Anti-Bribery Management System
ISO 41001: Facility Management System
ISO 10002: Customer Satisfaction Guidelines for Complaint Handling
ISO 29001: Quality Management System for Petroleum, Petrochemical and Natural Gas Industries
ISO 10006: Quality Management System in Projects
ISO 22301: Business Continuity Management System
AS 9100 Quality Management System for Aviation, Space, and Defense Industry
API Certification: Standard by American Petroleum Institute (API) for Oil & Gas Industry
API Monogram Program
ISO 39001: Road Traffic Safety Management System
At Qdot, we firmly believe in the authenticity and independence of the ISO certification process. We only work with mainstream ISO Certification bodies, i.e., SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TUV Apex, etc., accredited by IAF member accreditation bodies. Qdot earned its reputation as a prominent provider of ISO consultancy services, ensuring successful certification for our clients. Many industries trust us in Pakistan as a leading and one of the best-organized ISO consultancy companies, providing ISO consultancy services to organizations of all sizes from different industries. We specialize in developing, implementing, and maintaining all prominent ISO Management Systems. Our consultancy services are meticulously crafted to align our organization's strategic objectives with its daily operations, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and service quality while optimizing processes.
Preserving the prestige of ISO certifications requires a collective effort from all stakeholders. Let's continue working together to uphold these standards and their global significance.
In case you need clarification on any ISO consultancy organization or ISO certification body or any query related to any ISO Standard, please feel free to contact us through our Toll-Free number +971 800 QDOT9 (73689) or the local office number from the Contact Us page. We also have WhatsApp at the same number. You can also send an email to [email protected].
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FAQ's
What does the ISO certification process involve in Pakistan?
ISO certification involves a formal audit by an accredited third-party body, assessing an organization's compliance with ISO standards, which is then awarded.
Can startups in Pakistan obtain ISO certification?
Yes, Pakistani startups can obtain ISO certification, which is scalable and adaptable, enabling them to establish credibility and build trust with stakeholders early in their operations.
What challenges might a company face during the ISO certification process?
Common challenges include interpretation of ISO standards, alignment with business processes, documentation management, employee engagement, and preparation for external audits.
What impact does ISO certification have on Pakistani businesses' international trade?
ISO certification enhances Pakistani businesses' international trade by ensuring quality, reliability, and compliance with regulatory requirements, facilitating smoother entry into global markets.
How can businesses in Pakistan maintain their ISO certification?
ISO certification necessitates continuous improvement and regular compliance checks, with organizations undergoing surveillance and recertification audits every three years. Businesses must monitor and update processes to address non-conformities.