Where we work · Pakistan
ISO and GRC certification consulting in Pakistan
Achieve ISO and GRC certification in Pakistan with Sterling: 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, 20+ years.
- 21 standards, one team
- Accredited certification route
- Mumbai office team
- Effivity and Academy included
Sectors that ask for certification in Pakistan
Clients include
ISO and GRC certification in Pakistan at a glance
Pakistan's certification market is shaped by a handful of public bodies rather than by one law. The Pakistan National Accreditation Council, established by statute in 2017, accredits certification bodies and laboratories, while the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority is the national standards body. The Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016 sets out how halal certificates, the halal standard and the halal logo are meant to work, and provincial food authorities licence food businesses. In finance, the State Bank of Pakistan issues a technology governance framework for banks and card security regulations under which providers shall preferably comply with PCI DSS. For federal and provincial government bodies and designated critical information infrastructure, the National CERT has issued the Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026. Demand comes from textile and apparel exporters, food and agri-food producers, banks and fintechs, IT and BPO firms, pharmaceutical and medical device makers and public-sector suppliers. Certificates are issued by accredited certification bodies, never by Sterling. Sterling's Mumbai office serves clients in Pakistan on-site where the work needs it and remotely otherwise, bringing 20+ years and 8,100+ client engagements in 60+ countries, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.
ISO and GRC standards Sterling delivers in Pakistan
Each page covers who needs the standard in Pakistan, its requirements, how to get it, what sets the time and cost, and the local laws behind it.
Quality & operational excellence
Information security, cyber & cloud
Privacy & data protection
AI governance & digital trust
Environment, energy & climate
Health & safety
Governance, risk & resilience
Financial services, payments & AML
Food safety & agriculture
Healthcare, medical devices & life sciences
Laboratories, inspection & accreditation
Automotive, aerospace, rail & defence
Construction, energy, oil & gas
Regulators and laws that drive certification in Pakistan (18)
| Law or regulator | What it asks for | Standards it cites |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is the 'Authority' named in the Act; the Federal Government may establish or designate a law enforcement agency to investigate offences | Creates offences including unauthorised copying or transmission of data and unauthorised access to a critical infrastructure information system or data, and defines both terms. It cites no standard and creates no certificate. The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. II of 2025) is also listed on the National Assembly site. | |
| Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority, both created by the Act | Provides for digital governance and public digital infrastructure. The Authority's functions include oversight and standards in areas the Commission assigns, among them data management and governance, artificial intelligence and virtual assets, and recommending governance, standards and compliance for public-sector cloud infrastructure. Where another law prescribes specific measures for protecting citizens' data rights and cybersecurity, the Act says those provisions have overriding effect. | |
| Pakistan Information Security Framework (PISF) 2026 — Essential Data Protection and Privacy Controls National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan (PKCERT / nCERT) | The framework applies to federal and provincial government ministries, divisions and departments, autonomous bodies, corporations, CERTs and designated critical information infrastructure. Private companies meet it mainly as suppliers to those bodies. | |
| Pakistan Halal Authority (established by notification under the Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016) Halal articles and processes in imports, exports and inter-provincial trade, and in the Islamabad Capital Territory | Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016 (Act No. VIII of 2016) — a Halal Certificate is issued by an 'Accredited Halal Certification Body', meaning a firm or company certified by the National Accreditation Body (the Pakistan National Accreditation Council, or a body the Government notifies) as competent to carry out halal certification; the Halal Standard is the Pakistan Halal Standard notified by the National Standards Body (the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority); the Authority approves the Halal logo, recommends standards and an accreditation mechanism, and may operate as a certification body once accredited. The export, import and marketing provisions come into force on dates the Federal Government notifies. Schedule I (OIC Guidelines for Halal Food) lists an ISO food safety management systems standard among its normative references and says food safety and traceability should be prerequisites. | Halal certification, ISO 22000 |
| Punjab Halal Development Agency Halal certification in the Punjab | Punjab Halal Development Agency Act 2016 (LVI of 2016, published in the Punjab Gazette on 6 December 2016) — the Agency issues Domestic Halal Certificates, Halal Licences for plants, premises and abattoirs, and authorises use of the halal logo; its stated purpose includes uniform implementation of Halal Standards and the directions of the Pakistan Halal Authority; 'Accredited Body' is defined by reference to recognition by the Pakistan National Accreditation Council. The Punjab Food Authority's site carries a page for the Agency. | Halal certification |
| Punjab Food Authority; Sindh Food Authority; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority Food businesses, processors and food premises across the provinces | Provincial food authorities licence and inspect food businesses. The Punjab Food Authority offers a licence-category tool, food-business SOPs and an application portal and publishes its food laws and regulations; the Sindh Food Authority Act, 2016 (Sindh Act No. XIV of 2017) requires a registration and a valid licence to use a place for food business; the KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority states that it was established under the 2014 Act, that all food businesses must be registered and regularly inspected, and that it runs food testing laboratories and food-handler training. A food-safety certificate is a buyer or export expectation and does not replace the provincial licence. | HACCP, ISO 22000 |
| National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) Exporters and importers of agricultural produce, plants, animals and products used as food or feed | National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Act, 2026 (Act No. IV of 2026, assented to on 19 December 2025 and published on 12 January 2026) — regulates the quality aspects of such goods traded internationally and inter-provincially in line with recognised sanitary and phytosanitary measures or quality standards; testing laboratories used for official controls, food safety, SPS conditions and agrochemical testing must meet the general competence requirements for testing and calibration laboratories and be accredited by PNAC or by an accreditation body that is a signatory to the ILAC mutual recognition arrangement. | ISO/IEC 17025 |
| State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Banks, development finance institutions and microfinance banks | Enterprise Technology Governance & Risk Management Framework for Financial Institutions (BPRD Circular No. 05 of 2017, 30 May 2017) — SBP's press release describes it as based on principles of international standards and best practices for technology governance, applying to commercial and Islamic banks, DFIs and microfinance banks on a risk-based, size-scaled basis; the release names no specific standard. | |
| State Bank of Pakistan, Payment Systems Department Card issuers, acquirers, processors and other card service providers under SBP supervision | Regulations for Payment Card Security (PSD Circular No. 05 of 2016) — card service providers 'shall preferably comply with PCI DSS and PA DSS standards' alongside EMV, authentication and fraud-monitoring measures. | PCI DSS |
| State Bank of Pakistan, Payment Systems Policy & Oversight Department Payment institutions | Technology Risk Management Framework for Payment Institutions (PSP&OD Circular No. 04 of 2025, 3 October 2025), listed under risk management on SBP's circulars page; no standard is named in the listing. | |
| National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT / nCERT) Federal and provincial government bodies, autonomous bodies, corporations and designated critical information infrastructure | Pakistan Information Security Framework (PISF) 2026 — baseline information security controls issued in line with the National Cyber Security Policy 2021 and the CERT Rules 2023, in 13 documents, assessed against ISMS scope and control-maturity tables; nCERT's Engagement & Oversight Framework for Audit Activities requires that audit and compliance work under the PISF uses nCERT-registered firms only; the registration criteria say registered audit firms must be registered with SECP or the Registrar of firms, may not outsource audit work to foreign third-party assessors, and should implement a quality management system based on ISO 9001 or a relevant standard. | ISO 9001 |
| Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Telecom operators and licensees | Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations 2020, listed on the National CERT's policies and legislation page; no standard is named in the listing. | |
| Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Medical Devices Board Medical device manufacturers, importers and distributors | Medical Devices Rules, 2017 — DRAP publishes lists of licensed manufacturers and importers and of enlisted or registered medical devices approved by the Medical Device Board; DRAP's legislation page lists amendments to the Rules in 2025. The pages do not name ISO 13485. | |
| National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) Energy-intensive industries and designated consumers | National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, 2016 — provides for energy audits by certified or accredited energy auditors, designation of consumers, energy consumption norms and standards set with the national standards body; the Act does not name ISO 50001. | |
| Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and provincial environmental protection agencies Industrial, energy and infrastructure projects with environmental impact | Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 — provides for initial environmental examination and environmental impact assessment, National Environmental Quality Standards and certification of approved laboratories; it does not name ISO 14001. | |
| Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Employers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (provincial example of occupational safety and health law) | The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2022 (Act No. XV of 2022, passed 31 May 2022) is listed on the Provincial Assembly's site; employers' duties come from the provincial statute, not from a certificate. | |
| Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) Developers and deployers of artificial intelligence | Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2025, approved by the Federal Cabinet — six pillars including a secure AI ecosystem (regulatory sandboxes, cybersecurity protocols, transparency frameworks) and international partnerships with alignment to international standards; the MoITT page names no specific standard. | |
| Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Listed companies | Listed Companies (Code of Corporate Governance) Regulations, 2019 (S.R.O. 1163(I)/2019), amended by later S.R.O.s — governance duties for listed companies; the title and notifications are listed on SECP's site. |
Accreditation and recognition
- Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC): National accreditation body, established by the Pakistan National Accreditation Council Act, 2017 to accredit conformity assessment bodies; accredits certification bodies, testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies and halal certification bodies.
- Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA): National standards body; establishes and publishes Pakistan standards and grants quality, conformity and safety marks; under the Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016 it notifies the Pakistan Halal Standard.
Look for a certification body whose accreditation scope covers your standard and sector, from a national accreditation body recognised under the international arrangements of Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, formerly the IAF MLA). Sterling does not certify.
Tenders and procurement
- Public Procurement Rules, 2026 and the EPADS e-procurement system (Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)): PPRA's site announces a new set of Public Procurement Rules, 2026 as formally notified and operates EPADS for tenders and vendor registration. Eligibility criteria and the evidence required are set in each bidding document; read the qualification clause of the tender you are bidding on.
- Engagement & Oversight Framework for Audit Activities under the Pakistan Information Security Framework (National Cyber Emergency Response Team (nCERT)): Applies to federal and provincial government entities, public sector organisations, critical information infrastructure and nCERT-registered audit firms; it provides for mandatory engagement of nCERT-registered firms only, with category-based selection, confidentiality and independence requirements, and notification to nCERT. A firm that advised on an auditee's controls cannot audit the same organisation.
Economic zones
- Special Economic Zones (Special Economic Zones Act, 2012; Board of Investment secretariat): export-oriented manufacturing, industrial development
- Special Technology Zones (Special Technology Zones Authority): technology and knowledge-based enterprises, technology infrastructure developers, academic institutions
- Port Qasim, Karachi:
Sterling in Pakistan
Sterling delivers in Pakistan from its Mumbai office: one team from scoping to certificate, with Effivity ISO & GRC software and Sterling Academy access included. Sterling does not certify; certification decisions stay with independent bodies.
What the standards require, clause by clause
Before you start in Pakistan, read what each clause and subclause requires of you, how to implement it, the evidence auditors look for and the mistakes to avoid.
- ISO 9001:2026 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements143 clause guides
- ISO 14001:2026 requirements53 clause guides
- ISO 45001:2018 requirements60 clause guides
- ISO 22000:2018 requirements95 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements68 clause guides
- ISO/IEC 42001:2023 requirements97 clause guides
Questions Pakistani clients ask
Which accreditation should a certification body hold for Pakistan?
Look for accreditation by the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), set up by statute in 2017 to accredit conformity assessment bodies. The legacy mutual recognition site shows PNAC recognised for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, ISO 22000 certification and product certification. For any other standard, ask the certification body to show the accreditation certificate and scope that covers it.
Who issues a halal certificate in Pakistan?
Under the Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016 a halal certificate comes from an Accredited Halal Certification Body, one that the national accreditation body has certified as competent, while the Authority approves the halal logo. Punjab has its own Punjab Halal Development Agency Act 2016, under which the Agency issues domestic halal certificates in that province. Confirm which route fits your product with the Authority.
Does the State Bank of Pakistan require ISO 27001 from banks?
No named ISO standard is attached to the framework SBP issued for technology governance; the press release says only that it rests on international principles, so a bank cannot read ISO 27001 into it. Separately, SBP's card security regulations say card service providers shall preferably comply with PCI DSS and PA DSS. Your licence conditions are the final word, so check them with SBP.
Does the National CERT's framework apply to private companies?
Directly, no: the Pakistan Information Security Framework 2026 applies to federal and provincial government bodies, autonomous bodies, corporations and designated critical information infrastructure. Private companies meet it as suppliers. For audit work under the framework, nCERT's engagement framework provides for registered audit firms only, so ask the buyer which firms it may appoint.
Are audits in Pakistan conducted in English?
Usually, yes for the documents and the audit report: English is the common language of business records, standards and tenders in Pakistan, although the Constitution names Urdu as the national language. Interviews on the shop floor may be in Urdu or a regional language. Agree the audit language and any interpreter with the certification body when you apply.
Can audits be planned around Eid and Ramadan?
Yes, with early planning. Eid holidays, Ashura and Ramadan working hours follow the lunar calendar, so they shift each year, and Friday congregational prayer shapes the working day. Tell the certification body which sites and provinces you operate in when you apply, so audit dates avoid closures instead of relying on a fixed calendar.
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Sources
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 — senate.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 — senate.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan Information Security Framework (PISF) 2026 — Essential Data Protection and Privacy Controls — pkcert.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016 (Act No. VIII of 2016) — senate.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Punjab Halal Development Agency Act 2016 (LVI of 2016, published in the Punjab Gazette on 6 December 2016) — pfa.gop.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Provincial food authorities licence and inspect food businesses. The Punjab Food Authority offers a licence-category tool, food-business SOPs and an application portal and publishes its food laws and regulations; the Sindh Food Authority Act, 2016 (Sindh Act No. XIV of 2017) requires a registration and a valid licence to use a place for food business; the KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority states that it was established under the 2014 Act, that all food businesses must be registered and regularly inspected, and that it runs food testing laboratories and food-handler training. A food-safety certificate is a buyer or export expectation and does not replace the provincial licence. — pfa.gop.pk; pas.gov.pk; kpfsa.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Act, 2026 (Act No. IV of 2026, assented to on 19 December 2025 and published on 12 January 2026) — na.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Enterprise Technology Governance & Risk Management Framework for Financial Institutions (BPRD Circular No. 05 of 2017, 30 May 2017) — sbp.org.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Regulations for Payment Card Security (PSD Circular No. 05 of 2016) — archive.sbp.org.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Technology Risk Management Framework for Payment Institutions (PSP&OD Circular No. 04 of 2025, 3 October 2025), listed under risk management on SBP's circulars page; no standard is named in the listing — sbp.org.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan Information Security Framework (PISF) 2026 — pkcert.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations 2020, listed on the National CERT's policies and legislation page; no standard is named in the listing — pkcert.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Medical Devices Rules, 2017 — dra.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, 2016 — senate.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 — pakistancode.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2022 (Act No. XV of 2022, passed 31 May 2022) is listed on the Provincial Assembly's site; employers' duties come from the provincial statute, not from a certificate — pakp.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2025, approved by the Federal Cabinet — moitt.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Listed Companies (Code of Corporate Governance) Regulations, 2019 (S.R.O. 1163(I)/2019), amended by later S.R.O.s — secp.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) — senate.gov.pk; iaf.nu; ilac.org; apac-accreditation.org; pnac.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) — senate.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Public Procurement Rules, 2026 and the EPADS e-procurement system — ppra.org.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Engagement & Oversight Framework for Audit Activities under the Pakistan Information Security Framework — pkcert.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Special Economic Zones (Special Economic Zones Act, 2012; Board of Investment secretariat) — invest.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Special Technology Zones (Special Technology Zones Authority) — stza.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
- Port Qasim, Karachi — invest.gov.pk (accessed 8 Oct 2026)
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