‘Halal Market Poised To Become Trillion Dollar Industry’ Says Pak Minister

Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz on Friday said the government had approved Pakistan Halal Authority business rules and Pakistan Halal Certification.

“It is a milestone achieved by the Pakistan Halal Authority,” Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz said while speaking at the interactive session with stakeholders to develop an understanding of halal regulations and the role of halal certification bodies to make Pakistan Halal Products globally acceptable.

Speaking at the conference, he said the halal market was growing fast with the potential of earning revenue worth a trillion dollars internationally.

The halal sector is currently attracting the attention of policymakers and the private sector. Surprisingly most of the leading countries in this emerging Halal trade are non-Muslim such as Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China, Korea, South Africa, and the US, etc., he said.

Pakistan Halal Authority had finalized business rules, and certification marks regulations, which would make the Pakistan Halal Authority regulate Halal Products and services as per international practices by implementing a single Pakistan halal logo as a mark of Halal Assurance in addition to PHA financial rules,

He said it would transform PHA into a self-sustained and self-financed organization in line with government policy within the next six months.

“The main hurdles in the recruitment of technical and non-technical manpower have been removed after approval of PHA recruitment regulations by the federal cabinet,” he said adding that the Halal Certification Marks Regulation would ensure the products and services complying with Halal requirements.

The Single Pakistan Halal Logo on the products would be the sign of verification that the product was following Halal standards and regulations, he said.

The Halal Certification Marks was a key step for ease of doing business and single window operation. It would also provide registration and recognition of local/ foreign Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs).

“This will guarantee the consumers that products/processes fulfill the requirements of Halal certification.

“As per proposed MoU Halal Certification Bodies, accredited by the internationally recognized accreditation body will be accepted by counterpart organization of the proposed countries on a similar way,” the minister said.

“PHA will accept the certificates of proposed counterpart organization of the countries, accredited by the internationally recognized accreditation body, instead of individual registration /affiliation of Halal Certification Bodies,” Shibli Faraz informed participants.

Originally published on www.dawn.com