The government on Thursday introduced "The Pakistan Halal Authority Bill, 2015" in the National Assembly to establish a Pakistan Halal Authority to promote imports, exports, trade and commerce with foreign countries. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain introduced the Bill in the House.
According to objectives of the Bill, there is a huge international market of Halal Business worth trillions of dollars, bulk of which is being taken away by non-Muslim countries. The scope of the Halal sector covers a wide range of items such as food, pharmaceuticals, health, food supplements and toiletries etc.
Pakistan being a Muslim country is taking only a nominal share of this huge export potential, due to non-existence of a legal and recognised entity/ authority at the national level dealing with the Halal sector. A report of Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on "The Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill, 2015" was presented in the House. According to the report, the federal government under the directions of Supreme Court will make necessary enactment to empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to carry out the delimitation of Constituencies of Local Government.
According to the Bill, the headquarters of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may, with the prior approval of the Government, set up offices at other places as when and where required. The general direction and administration of the Authority and its affairs shall vest in the Board, which may exercise all powers and do all acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Authority.
The Board of Governors will consist of (a) Minister for Science and Technology, Chairperson, (b) Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, (c)Secretary, Ministry of Finance, (d) Secretary, Ministry of Industries and Production, (e) Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, (f) Secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs, (g) Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, (h) Chief Secretaries of the Provincial Governments, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, (i) Director General, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority;
(j) Director General, Pakistan National Accreditation Council, (k) President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, (l) Chairman, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Pakistan Representative), (m) Three well-reputed Shariah Scholars to be nominated by Ministry of Religious Affairs, including one from the Council of Islamic Ideology, (n) One representative to be nominated by the Rector, International Islamic University, Islamabad, (a) Food Technologist nominated by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council, (p) Director-General, Pakistan Halal Authority, Member/Secretary.
In case of non-availability of the Minister for Science and Technology for any reason, the Government may designate any other Minister as Chairperson. Powers and functions of the Authority shall be to- (i) develop and implement policies, strategies, plans and programmes for promotion of imports and exports, trade and commerce with foreign countries and inter-provincial trade and commerce in Halal articles and processes; (ii) recommend the Halal Standards developed for articles and processes, to be notified in the official Gazette by the Federal Government for adoption and notification by the National Standards Body: Provided that the Halal Standard for any article or process shall be in accordance with Organisation of the Islamic Co-operation (OIC) guidelines if any issued for such article or process from time to time, including in particular, the OIC standards-general guidelines for Halal Food in Schedule; (iii) develop and recommend mechanism for Accreditation of Certification Bodies and adoption of Halal Certification systems utilising the services of the Halal Accreditation Body; (iv) develop policies, plans and programmes for ensuring compliance of Halal articles and processes with the Halal Standards; (v) develop and authorise use of Halal logo for Halal articles and processes; (vi) issue, renew, suspend or cancel a Halal Certificate; (vii) levy fees for issue or renewal of the Halal Certificate; (viii) maintain a register of all persons, firms and companies authorised to use the Halal logo; (ix) inspect and test Halal products and processes for their quality, specification and characteristics with relation to the Halal Standards, for purposes of imports and exports, trade and commerce with foreign countries and inter-provincial trade and commerce; (x) prohibit production, storage and sale in the Islamabad Capital Territory of such Halal products as do not conform to the HaIaI Standards; (xi) arrange and conduct public awareness campaigns in relation to the Halal sector in general and to Halal products and processes in particular; (xii) secure international recognition of the Halal logo to build confidence in the Halal Certification system and Pakistani Halal products abroad; (xiii) co-ordinate with national and international organisations for strengthening the Halal sector; (xiv) promote and encourage establishment of libraries and laboratories for the purpose of developing the Hatal sector; (xv) collect and circulate statistical and other information relating to the Halal sector; and (xvi) any other function assigned by the Government for development of the Halal sector and promotion of Halal products and processes for purposes of the Act.