imgage_1

Background Information

Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms, Government of Pakistan has declared year 2016 as the year of Productivity, Quality and Invention (PQI). To support PQI Initiatives, Ministry of Science & Technology has launched a programme “Certification Incentive Programme for SMEs under PQI Initiative 2025”.
Read More...

Project Profile

Title of Project: Certification Incentive Programme for SMEs under PQI Initiatives-2025.
Executing Agency: Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of Pakistan.
Capital Cost: Rs.745.81 million
Time Duration: 3 years

Main Objectives

    • To Guide & Support the SMEs to adopt new trends of international competitiveness, improved industrial productivity & Quality.
    • To provide incentive grants to more than 2000 SMEs in developing a certification framework to improve business practices and enhancing export.
    • To improve competitiveness of Pakistani Entrepreneurs / SMEs in global supply chain.
    • To organize training programmes for stakeholders in establishing & maintaining certification systems.
    Read More...

    Targeted Industrial Sectors
    (Export based)

    Food Sectors:

  • Rice, Wheat & other Grains
  • Livestock and Dairy
  • Food and Halal Food
  • Marine products

    Non-Food Sectors:

  • Textile & Leather
  • Electrical & Electronics
  • Health, Beauty & Cosmetics
  • Gems, Precious Stones, Jewelry
  • Metals & Minerals
  • Marble & Granite
  • Carpets & Rugs, Tents
  • Surgical Instruments
  • Sports Goods
  • Ready Made Garments
  • Chemicals & Pharmaceutical Products
  • Auto / Auto Parts
  • Other Consumer Products
  • Other Engineering Goods

    Service Sector:

  • Inspection & Verification Bodies
  • Certification Bodies operating Certification Scheme
  • Accreditation Bodies

    Schemes of Certification / Accreditation under Certification Incentive Programme For SMEs, include but not limited to:

  • ISO 9001 Quality Management System
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
  • OHSAS also Known as ISO 18001 Occupational Health & Safety Assessment System Series
  • ISO 22000, Food Safety Management
  • ISO 50001 Energy management
  • Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  • HACCP, Hazard analysis and critical control points
  • BRC Food & Consumer (British Retail Consortium)
  • IFS (Food Quality & Safety Standard)
  • SA 8000 (Social Accountability Standard)
  • ISO 13485 Medical devices-Quality management systems-Requirements for regulatory purposes
  • BSCI Business Social Compliance Initiative
  • REACH Registration Evaluation, Authorization & Restriction of Chemicals
  • WRAP Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
  • OEKO-TEX 100
  • Global Gap
  • - Fruit & Vegetable
    - Combinable Crops
    - Aquaculture
    - Animal Feed – Livestock (Meat, Poultry, Dairy)
  • Halal Certification OIC-SMIIC 1 / PS 3733
  • CE Marking
  • Product Certification
    Read More...

    Features of the Scheme

    i.
    It is an all Pakistan Programme / Scheme administered by Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST).
    ii.
    The Programme / Scheme shall provide one time reimbursement only against a valid Certification. The incentive will be provided to applicant SMEs for only one scheme of their choice.
    iii.
    The Scheme envisages one time reimbursement of partial expenditure for acquiring certification, so applicable. An amount of Rs.0.1- 0.4 million per certification for each SME is earmarked under the project.
    iv.
    Intensive nation vide training programmes for the related certification schemes will be organized
    v.
    The permanent registered Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) / units are eligible to avail the Incentive Scheme.
    Read More...

    Payment Schedule of Incentive Grant:

    The successful applicant SME upon satisfactory assessment and verification will be paid the applicable incentive grant as per the following schedule. At each stage, the payments will, however, be subject to the production of certification report issued by the Certification Body at first full assessment and subsequent surveillance assessments.
    Read More...

    Criteria for approving Certification Bodies (CB) for reimbursement of certification grant to SMEs:

    1.
    Certification Bodies (CB) operating in Pakistan and accredited by Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) would be preferred and directly approved.
    2.
    Certification Bodies (CBs) duly accredited by a recognized foreign Accreditation Body (AB), preferably National Accreditation Body, will be considered for qualification of the applicant SME provided that accreditation schemes is not yet launched by PNAC or is outside the scope of PNAC.
    3.
    Cases where certificates other than PNAC accredited CBs are issued, the CBs operating in Pakistan but accredited directly by foreign Accreditation Bodies should provide the credible evidence that:
    a. The branch office of CB is accredited for Pakistani location.
    b. Its AB holds membership of International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and is a signatory to Multilateral Recognition Arrangements (MLA) / enjoys member status for the Pakistani location.
    c. Credible evidence to the requirements narrated above to “a” & “b” is provided.
    4.
    Individuals/organizations acting as a representative of a foreign CB under a legal agreement and not using the name of the CB will not be considered for this incentive programme / scheme.
    Read More...