ISLAMABAD: The National Productivity Organization (NPO), Pakistan, in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) based in Tokyo, Japan has announced the launch of an international training course for evaluators of the Productivity Specialist Certification Program. The event was scheduled from September 4 to September 8, 2023 and was inaugurated at a local hotel in Islamabad.
This basic training program is ready to welcome 17 distinguished foreign participants representing 10 APO member countries along with 5 local participants. The course syllabus will be expertly delivered by renowned international speakers hailing from Singapore, Malaysia and Mongolia.
The primary objective of this intensive workshop is to train and equip proficient assessors within national productivity organizations who play a key role as APO accredited certification bodies. Participants will become familiar with the requirements for Productivity Specialists, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, criteria and competencies necessary to conduct assessments leading to Productivity Specialist certification.
At the opening ceremony of the event, Mrs. Ismat Gul Khattak, Director General, Pakistan National Accreditation Board graced the occasion as the chief guest. In her inspiring opening remarks, Ms. Khattak commended APO’s key role in supporting the development of the Asia-Pacific region. She emphasized the need to reinvigorate our commitment to realizing the APO vision of “Inclusive, Innovation-Led Productivity Growth in Asia and the Pacific”.
Ms. Khattak warmly welcomed the international delegates and expressed her deep gratitude to both APO and NPO for addressing this vital topic. She emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s cooperation with the APO as a means to address long-standing productivity challenges.
The NPO is dedicated to complementing and strengthening the mandate of the Ministry by striving to fulfill its vision of an “economically productive and globally competitive Pakistan”.
NPO Pakistan recently achieved certification body status under the accreditation body Asian Productivity Organization, specifically for the Certified Productivity Specialists program. This initiative aims to support the development of certified productivity professionals in Pakistan and accelerate the cultivation of a productivity improvement culture in the country.
Mr. Zafarullah Khan, Program Director, APO Tokyo, Japan highlighted the joint efforts of the APO and NPO teams in increasing productivity across the region. He provided valuable insights into APO’s journey of success stories and significant achievements in the Asia-Pacific region.
Muhammad Alamgir Chaudhry, Director General, NPO, welcomed the participants and resources and highlighted the importance of this certification body as a strategic initiative that will significantly contribute to Pakistan’s productivity drive.
He also noted that three other APO member countries, namely Malaysia, Vietnam and Mongolia, have recently received accreditation for their certification bodies from APO in line with the vision of their respective country leaders with the help of APO in Japan. This achievement underscores the key role certification bodies play in driving productivity initiatives in Pakistan.
