ISLAMABAD: Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Murtaza Mahmood assured full support of government to address challenges faced by surgical instruments’ manufacturing industry.

During his visit to Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SIMAP) Sialkot he advised to take on board all relevant organisations which include Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Pakistan National Accreditation Council and more for an early resolution of medical device regulations which will come in force in 2024 and may seriously affect exports of this sector if compliance is not achieved by industry.

He assured to seek possibilities at government level to negotiate with other international certification bodies for providing MDR solutions to industry. He advised industry to identify two to three medical devices for reverse engineering and local manufacturing with support of Ministry of Industry attached department. He directed to review existing rules and regulations of Export Processing Zones Authority and other Special Economic Zones for making them more industry-friendly to increase ease of doing business in country.

He stressed collaboration among provincial and federal organisations and departments to solve problems faced by surgical industry for further increasing exports of sector. Chairman Engineering Development Board and senior officials of Ministry of Industries and Production and Chairman Export Processing Zones Authority, Chief Executive Officers of EDB, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, National Productivity Organisation, Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Centre and Director Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company were presented.

Punjab Small Industrial Corporation, Cluster Development Institute, TEVTA and Customs Department also attended meeting. CEO EDB briefed participants that presently all attached department under Ministry of Industry were cooperating with surgical industry to tackle various issues being faced by them to improve efficiency, productivity and enhance as well as diversify exports. President SIMAP welcomed steps being taken by Ministry of Industry for supporting surgical instrument industry to improve its productivity, output and enhancing exports.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 23 2022

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