ISLAMABAD – Pakistan can serve as the Halal Kitchen of the World provided the food industry is organized on modern lines and the “Farm to Fork” approach adopted.
Zahid Hamid, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, expressed this during the inaugural session of World Halal Assembly, of the Standards and Meteorology Institute of Islamic Countries (SMIIC), a center of excellence of OIC countries, hosted by Pakistan Standards & Control Authority, an organization of the Ministry for Science and Technology.
“The event will enable participants to connect with national and international market leaders, share best practices, monitor market trends via idea sharing, networking and liaising with each other and seek solutions to obstacles faced by the Halal industry faced by the globe,” the minister hoped. He said that Global Halal Market is estimated at $3 trillion annually out of which the value of Halal food sectors is $700 billion approx. Both the Halal Food & Non-food sectors are expanding at a rapid rate, the reason for this vast thriving market is the recognized safety and quality assurance of Halal products, penetrating in lucrative markets of even non-Muslims majority nations, like Australia, China & European Union, he added.
The minister said that Pakistan being blessed with considerable livestock resources, 5th in the world in term of cattle and buffalo population (72 million approx) but unfortunately a very small percentage of the country’s meat production is being exporting.
“Though Pakistani meat exporters mostly focused on Muslim countries there is a great scope and potential for export of Halal meat to non-traditional markets. Pakistan can serve as the Halal Kitchen of the World provided the food industry is organized on modern lines,” the Minister explored.
Speaking at the occasion, Hulusi Senturk, Chairman SMIIC, said that SMIIC aims at realizing harmonized standards in the OIC member states: aids in developing infrastructures in the 22 developing states to make them at par with the countries equipped with these requirements.
He stressed that the OIC countries should complete the quality infrastructure, to work in harmony in accordance with WTO-TBT agreements in order to enhance trade.
The establishment of Halal System, a measure taken by OIC, includes unified Halal Certification and Accreditation was the first step to remove the confusion prevailing in the market with multitude of different halal standard, certification schemes and logos . Pir Bakhsh Jamali, Director General Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority, said that Pakistan is a regular and active member of SMIIC and fully committed to its objectives.
Originally Published on www.nation.com.pk