Journey of Quality Management in Pakistan

Introduction

Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947, as a result of a long struggle for independence by its founding father; Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was a bruised country, recovering from the harsh and brutal treatment it received during the process of independence. It didn’t get any industry worthy of economic sense caused by this geographic division. The country got a few ginning mills located in the cotton producing belt, very rudimentary sugar mills, only two cement factories, and several tanneries. No government-owned enterprises existed to prompt industrial engagement. Most of the people were involved in agriculture and Pakistan was self-supportive in food for its people. The overall education level was below the minimum literacy level except in the big cities. People didn’t know much about their privileges as consumers because businessmen were controlling distribution and retail channels. There was however, a feeling of uneasiness with the economic system governing the daily lives of urban population. Late forties, fifties, and sixties were smooth for the stomach but uncomfortable for the destiny. Some kind of thinking on quality and standardization was taking shape in prudent minds.

This article provides the history of Quality Movement in Pakistan and how it expanded and grew over the last six decades. It explains the key features and challenges faced at the government, industrial, business and academic levels.