The government was considering a proposal to formulate Halal food standards and set up Halal Food Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Halal Development Project, Asad Sajjad, told the business community. Giving a presentation on Halal food at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday, he emphasised the need to set up free zones in the country to promote Halal food exports.
He said the total size of global Halal food market was worth 632 billion dollars. Whereas total Halal food and services ranged from a minimum of one trillion dollars to 2 trillion dollars per annum.
He explained, "Halal means what is permissible in Islam and has direct impact on how products and services should be financed, produced, processed, distributed, stocked, sold and consumed." The determination of Halal products was not limited to meat or food products only but it also included a wide range of products and services, he added.
Asad Sajjad said in this huge Halal food market Pakistan's share was almost negligible and around 85 percent market share was in the hand of non-Muslim countries. He said Brazil was exporting one million frozen Halal chickens to 100 countries and around 300,000 MT of Halal beef to Saudi Arabia, GCC, Egypt and Iran. While France was exporting 750,000 MT Halal frozen chicken to Muslim countries.
Halal certified products are recognised as hygienic and of good quality, thus these are also in high demand amongst non-Muslim countries. He was of the opinion that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries were the most potential Halal food customers for Pakistan as they were very conscious about their religious belief and take care of what they eat and use.
He said the products and services exported from Pakistan might be popular in sub-continent and Middle East but Muslims living in the USA, Europe, Africa or even Asia were not familiar with Pak brands. However, they would pick up Pak products from the shelves if they saw the brand label or logo of Halal.
Pakistan could fight back against all odds by focusing on the strength, which Pakistan had ignored, by taping billions of dollars Halal market. KCCI President Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad said the avenues were open to the Pakistani entrepreneurs to exploit huge potential in trillion dollars Halal market and beat the economic recession in the country. He advised Pakistani businessmen to enter this lucrative market by exploiting opportunities.