PCSIR plans textile research centre to facilitate SMEs

Facility will be set up in Faisalabad at a cost of Rs429m

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) will set up a multipurpose Textile Testing Research Centre in Faisalabad at an estimated cost of Rs429 million, disclosed PCSIR Chairman Dr Shahzad Alam.

Speaking in a meeting at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) on Saturday, Alam said the government had given the go-ahead for the project, which would particularly help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) achieve a quantum jump in textile exports.



He visited the FCCI to consult stakeholders in order to make the research facility more productive, especially for the textile sector. He would also identify the site for the project in addition to discussing whether it should be exclusively for the textile industry or other sectors of Faisalabad could also take benefit of the facility.

Talking about the performance of PCSIR, Alam said its objectives were to provide testing facilities in addition to product development and support for the export sector. It will also provide substitutes for import goods.

He underlined the importance of SMEs in overall development of a country, saying PCSIR was especially focusing on facilitating the small units.

Alam pointed out that though world’s best quality fruits were produced in Skardu, a huge quantity was wasted because of the dearth of technology to preserve the produce.

PCSIR, which has nine laboratories and seven academic institutes across the country, has provided solar dehydrators for local orchards to enable them to protect their harvest and supply it to domestic as well as international markets.

He also underlined the importance of highly skilled workers for local industries and said PCSIR was running seven training centres across the country.

It has so far trained 30,000 to 35,000 students. “A similar facility could also be provided to local youth in a need-based sector or trade,” he added.

About technological development, Alam told businessmen that PCSIR had so far developed 130 new and innovative technologies, which were ready for commercialisation.

Similarly, PCSIR is also providing state-of-the-art testing facilities from an ordinary electric metre to hi-tech missiles.

“We are also undertaking research and development (R&D) work for the local industry and at present our scientists are busy in 60 different jobs on the request of varying industrial concerns,” he said, boasting PCSIR laboratories were internationally accredited and their certification was accepted all over the world.

Regarding PCSIR’s certification incentive programme, Alam revealed that Rs745 million had been earmarked for its implementation.

“We are doling out Rs400,000 to Rs500,000 for the certification of SMEs,” he said, adding 100 units had availed themselves of the facility.



Responding to a question, Alam announced that PCSIR would set up a special desk in the FCCI, which would link industrialists with R&D labs of PCSIR for the resolution of their immediate problems without any cost.

PCSIR was also working on Halal food and cosmetic goods imported from abroad, of which many were not up to the mark, he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2017.

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