LAHORE - All the top ten exporting countries of the Halaal products are non-Muslim states but unfortunately Pakistan-the fifth largest producer of livestock in the world- is not among these states.
There is a strong need to develop standards regarding Pakistan’s halal products, which will boost our exports especially in the Middle East and Europe.
“We possess all imperative elements for halal products’ production and have to streamline them to meet the demand of the market. Demand for Halaal food products is increasing rapidly with the escalating population growth rate and socio-economic conditions,” observed Mufti Ahsan Zafar, the country representative of South Africa National Halaal Authority while giving a presentation on “Halaal—the source of Economic Growth” here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari in his opening remarks threw light on LCCI endeavors for cause of Halaal exports.
He said that Pakistan has the capacity to become Kitchen of the World for Halaal products as it has a huge potential to win a major share out of total $3 trillion Global Halaal market.
He said that the promotion of Halaal exports would also open up new economic opportunities and employment for the youth and traders.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari said that producers outside the Muslim world, from Brazil to the U.S. and Australia, are performing well into the halaal market and doing a roaring business despite the fact that the concept of halaal entirely belongs to Muslims.
He said the industry is expected to double in terms of value within five years. “So we think there is a lot of opportunity... and we need to capitalize on this.” He said Malaysia exported $9.8 billion worth of halal products in 2013. That makes it one of the largest suppliers in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The LCCI President said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry was doing the needful for the promotion of Halal products but the government would have come up with a package of incentives so that quality halal foods could be exported from Pakistan.
3rd International Halal
Conference and Expo on 22nd
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha has said that the UVAS and Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA) are jointly organising “3rd International Halal Conference and Expo 2014” at the International Expo Centre Lahore on May 22 and 23.
Addressing a meeting, he said that the objective of the conference and expo is to introduce Pakistan Halal products in international markets and to conduct a technical training of professional human resource working in the local Halal industry. He said the Pakistani halal products are very popular in their taste and quality across the world but their marketing and branding are not being done properly. He said that the conference being arranged with the collaboration of the Halal Research Council, USAID-TAP, Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company and Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab will help provide Pakistani halal products access to world markets.