Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) standing committee on halal food import and export chairman Naseeb Ahmad Saifi has urged the next government to devise an incentive plan for all export-oriented industries to increase exports and fetch much-needed precious foreign exchange for stabilizing the economy.
He said increase in industrial activities will also ensure creation of new jobs and economic well being of the masses as promised by all the political parties in their manifestoes, especially Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf.
Talking to Business Recorder on Thursday, Naseeb Ahmad Saifi, who is also Chairman of All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association, said the government should first ensure provision of uninterrupted supply of cheap gas and electricity to the export-oriented industries. He suggested that the government can withdraw taxes levied on the utility bills to bring down the prices for industrial sector.
Saifi also urged that the new government should provide halal meat and halal products export sector a level-playing field with other export sectors to win a prominent place in the billions of dollars of international market.
The halal industry is a fast emerging business in the world, attracting both Muslims and non Muslims. He said halal food is consumed not only by 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, but also by at least 500 million non-Muslims which shows that there is a big scope to enter the halal food industry to tap the world market.
It is estimated that the annual halal food and non-food products market is about $2.1 trillion of which about $80 billion is being exploited which is 5 per cent of total trade of agri-food products. However, halal food trade may have a share of 20 percent of world trade in food products in near future. While the market for about 1.4 billion Muslims already exists, the demand for halal products is now on the rise across the globe, he added.
He said the coming government should pay special attention towards improving the farming sector in the country which is a base for almost all the export-oriented sector including textile. He said both agriculture and livestock sectors should be given equal importance while providing incentives and facilities for increased activities.
He said there are many steps needed to make Pakistan a brand name in the global halal market. For this purpose, the high prices of livestock should be reduced by eliminating various factors including check on livestock smuggling/export and restrict female animals slaughtering. He further urged that the government should also try to resolve the issues of stuck up duty draw backs of industrialists.
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