FPCCI holds webinar on Halal Industry in Pakistan
KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) president Mian Anjum Nisar has urged the government and the private sector for taking proactive initiatives to explore the true potential of 'Made in Pakistan' products and to make niche in Global Market.
Speaking at a Webinar organized by FPCCI on 'Halal Industry in Pakistan - Potential and Challenges,' he asserted for improvement in quality of products, setting up accredited laboratories in order to meet standardization and conformity of Halal Food products to increase its exports manifold.
Mian Anjum Nisar said globally the Halal Industry is expanding more rapidly in non-Muslim nations compared to Muslim nations due to safer, hygienic, reliable and nutritious products. He further added that the volume of global halal trade is more than $3 trillion but the share of Pakistan is very minimal.
He emphasized on the need to increase the halal food production and exports of semi cooked meat which is in highly demand in China and other Far East countries. In his remarks, Sheikh Sultan Rehman, Vice President FPCCI stated that Halal industry has emerged into fast growing industry; attracting 2.4 billion people from all over the world.
He further stated that Pakistan has direct access to 470 million consumers of halal products in Central Asia, Middle East and Europe; we may achieve great success, if we adopt proper strategy and planning for establishing this industry.
Dr Akhtar Ahmed Bughio, Director General, Pakistan Halal Authority stated that standardization and conformity of halal products is need of the hour to increase halal sector related exports. He added that halal is value addition and we need to modify our standards as per international requirement.
Dr Muhammad Arshad Vice President FPCCI highlighted the potentials of halal meat which is highly demanded internationally due to texture and taste. He also informed that there is huge market of Pakistani meat in neighboring countries i.e. Afghanistan and Iran which can be explored by making new investment in cattle farming and slaughterhouses.
Muhammad Ali Mian coordinator FPCCI regional office Lahore said halal products cannot be deemed fully halal if they are produced through a process that is not entirely Shari'a compliance.
Muhammad Awais Khan, Managing Director, Global Halal Services focused on the expansion of Pakistan Halal Development Council and requested to ban self developed halal logo which is creating problems in halal export. Mufti Zeeshan Abdul Aziz, CEO International Halal Certification (Pvt) Ltd added that Pakistan has complete system of standardization which is internationally accepted by other countries.
Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Research Associate, Halal Research Council proposed to introduce halal in tourism sector wherein Pakistan can earn millions of dollars. Eng M A Jabbar Former VP FPCCI underscored the need of development of Halal food industries through extending fiscal, monetary, trade policy adjustments along with regulatory framework. He further stated that Halal Development Authority should engage in facilitating mutual recognizing agreements on SPS to provide market access to our halal products.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020