LAHORE: A proposal has been submitted to the Punjab government seeking the merger of the Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA) into the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure the availability of quality food strictly in accordance with halal and Shariah principles across the province.
According to officials, the move, initiated on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab, is aimed at strengthening the enforcement of halal food laws through an integrated regulatory framework. Amendments to the relevant legislation have also been proposed to give the merger a firm legal footing and to enhance institutional capacity for halal governance.
In this regard, the Punjab Food Authority has launched specialized training programmes for food safety officers to align inspection mechanisms with halal requirements. The training sessions are being attended by deputy directors, food safety officers and assistant food safety officers from across Punjab, with a focus on effective enforcement of halal standards in both food and non-food inspections.
Director General PFA Asim Javed said the global halal food market is estimated at around $3 trillion, while Pakistan’s share stands negligible, highlighting vast untapped export potential. He noted that halal food is increasingly being preferred not only by Muslim consumers but also by non-Muslim communities worldwide due to quality, safety and ethical considerations.
He added that the PFA is actively working to promote halal food and exports in regional and international markets, including China, India, Sri Lanka and other countries. Asim Javed said the training programmes comprehensively cover the halal food framework, field operations and inspection systems, while introducing the halal regime as a regulatory compliance system rather than merely a religious concept.
According to him, participants are being trained on Pakistan’s halal governance system and the laws governing the Halal Development Agency, alongside detailed sessions on the linkage between food safety regulations and halal standards. The training also includes definitions of halal and haram, classification of food, packaging and non-food sectors, and a strong focus on national and international halal standards, particularly for export-oriented industries.
The DG further said strict scrutiny will be carried out on halal packaging and labelling in both food and non-food sectors, while special sessions will address Shariah-compliant slaughtering practices and prohibited elements in halal food. He made it clear that no product will be allowed market access without halal certification, and that violations of food safety, quality control and halal standards will invite strict legal action.
Asim Javed stated that the PFA has established an organised and effective system for food quality assurance, inspections and licensing. He described the last two years and two months as a “golden period” in the authority’s history, during which a crackdown on adulteration and malpractice created a hostile environment for food fraud mafias.
Reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment, he said all possible measures are being taken in line with the Chief Minister Punjab’s vision to ensure the provision of safe, quality and halal food to the public across the province.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026