STAFF REPORT IBD: The government of Pakistan has decided to set up a Board for Halal Food Accreditation in order to boost its exports and attract foreign investments in the sector, as it has billions of dollars capacity.
According to an official of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Board will be set up by the ministry and till its establishment, the cost on certification will be subsidised by 50 per cent.
The Board will provide policy guidelines to Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). It will also have private sectors and ulemas representation, along with government officials.
It is worth mentioning that currently Pakistan is exporting Halal food, especially meat, to Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf and Asian countries but the volume is far less than its capacity and is only in a few million dollars.
Global Halal market is growing and its current volume is about 2.77 trillion dollars. Pakistan having rich potential in livestock, dairy and poultry sector has the capability to capture this new market of Halal food.