Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) serves as the national apex accreditation body of Pakistan, operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan. Established in 1998 following Pakistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 1995, PNAC was created as a strategic pillar of the country’s National Quality Infrastructure to ensure compliance with international requirements for standards, conformity assessment, and accreditation. Its accreditation services were formally launched in 2001 to provide internationally credible assessment of laboratories, certification bodies, and other conformity assessment bodies.

Over the years, PNAC has evolved into a globally recognized accreditation authority through strict adherence to international standards and rigorous peer evaluation mechanisms. A major milestone was achieved in 2009 when PNAC became a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation for testing and calibration laboratories. This was followed by the attainment of Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) status with the International Accreditation Forum in 2013 for certification bodies in the fields of Quality Management Systems and Environmental Management Systems.

Today, PNAC stands among a select group of internationally recognized accreditation bodies whose accredited conformity assessment results are accepted worldwide under the principle of “accredited once, accepted everywhere.” Through its accreditation and capacity-building services, PNAC plays a vital role in enhancing the quality, safety, and competitiveness of Pakistani products and services, facilitating international trade, strengthening regulatory confidence, and supporting sustainable economic growth.