Senior Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir has said that despite being a Muslim country, Pakistan's share in the global Halal trade was merely 0.25 per cent which can be increased by upgrading Halal certification and providing Halal storage facilities.
Speaking at a seminar on Pakistan Hilal Assembly - 2018, he urged the government to establish Pakistan Halal Development Authority (PHDA) at national level for issuance of Halal certification and oversee the industry to promote Halal products in national as well as international market.
"There is a dire need to create awareness about Halal product in our country as this is not confined only to food and beverages but it also includes pharmaceutical, cosmetics and a lot more and people in our country are not aware of it," he said, emphasising that educating people on importance of Halal is necessary to promote Halal products in the country and abroad.
FPCI SVP reiterated that formation of PHDA was the need of the hour to keep check on exports and imports of Halal products. Moreover, organizations such as PSQA, PCSIR, and TDAP should also extend their support in the promotion and development of Halal industry.
Former President of FPCCI and ex-CE of TDAP, S.M Muneer said that such events should be organized more frequently to create much-needed awareness among local manufacturers in particular and the general public in general.
The chairman of the Standing Committee on Halal Food regretted that no Muslim country was among top ten exporters of Halal food and Pakistan too failed to get its due share in the global Halal market worth more than US$3 trillion.
"Halal foods gained a larger presence in major European and American fast food chains in recent years and supermarkets and food companies are jumping on the bandwagon to attain competitive advantage," he said, adding that it is just because they are now aware of the fact that Halal food is healthier.
The seminar had three sessions. The inaugural session was followed by a session on the government's role to promote Pakistan's Halal products exports, addressed by representatives of government organizations such as PSQA, PCSIR and PNAC.
The third session discussed trade barriers in Halal industrial development and export promotion addressed by the K&N's executive director Adil Khaleel, Director Al-Shaheer Foods Kamran Kalili and a host of others.