HDC creates linkages with international Halal bodies

KARACHI – The Halal Development Council of Pakistan (HDC) has made a significant breakthrough in linking the country’s products, industry and business with the global Halal economy driven by demand by Muslims seeking to consume lawful and good quality products, said HDC Secretary General Asad Sajjad.
Sajjad said that HDC has recently signed 12 memorandums of understanding (MoU) with acclaimed international Halal certification authorities, research canters, and scientific laboratories based in the Far East, South Africa, America and Europe for developing and promoting Pakistan as a major exporter of Halal goods and services to the global market.
International organisations will also support HDC in maintaining the integrity of Halal products, to support in the emergence of Halal products in the mainstream and competing in the global market and to promote Halal certified products and services in Pakistan and Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) members.
The MoUs signed by the HDC are with International Halal Integrity Alliance of Malaysia, Crescentrating Pte of Singapore, Department of Science and Technology of Philippines, Faroogh Sciences Research Lab of Iran, Halal Council of Mauritius, Muslim Judicial Halal Trust of South Africa, NZ Islamic Meat Management Co of New Zealand, Halal Polaska of Poland, The Halal Catering Co of Argentina, Ethnic Focus Research of UK, Mufti’s Council of Russia and OnePure Beauty Company of Canada.
“MoUs between HDC and renowned global organisations working for the massive global Halal economy reflects commitment and support for the promotion of Halal goods and services from Pakistan and to move the international Halal movement forward from the platform provided by HDC” Asad Sajjad claimed. It may be mentioned that the HDC made a major breakthrough by organising the first Global Halal Congress last month which succeeded in registering Pakistan as a potential player in the trillion dollar global Halal economy.
The Grand Mufti of Bosnia Dr Mustafa Ceric, Malaysian state minister of trade and religious affairs and other eminent personalities participated in the event and shared their views and knowledge with local leaders of commerce, industry as well as policy makers. The speakers emphasised the lack of awareness on the part of Pakistani manufacturers and exporters of the ‘Power of Halal Brand’ and the need to get Pakistani products ‘Halal Certified’ to break into the trillion dollar Halal business that is presently monopolised by non-Muslim countries who are exploiting Halal certification as a marketing tool.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza, on the occasion informed the international Halal promoters that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) was in the process of drafting the Halal Certification Bill to boost Pakistani exports for global consumers of Halal products and services stretching across a quarter of the world’s total population and assured the participants of full support when this bill is tabled in the national assembly.
Federal Minister Livestock Humayun Aziz Kurd said that the government puts its weight behind the cause of the Halal movement and realises the importance of Halal meat and poultry exports. He noted that his ministry has initiated a Rs 1.5 billion livestock production project and that the government has removed any duty on the import of slaughter house machinery to encourage the export of Halal meat.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said that HDC had opened the doors for Pakistani companies to the lucrative Halal market by arranging the Global Halal Congress in Pakistan. He thanked the 28 delegates from 17 countries to come to Pakistan for the Halal Congress.
The Grand Mufti of Bosnia Dr Mustafa Ceric called upon the brethren across the Ummah to spread peace and harmony in the world with the Halal Movement with a message to use and consume whatever is Halal and Tayyab. Dr Ceric went on to say that there was great demand of Halal food in Europe and advised Muslims to produce Halal food and other services and ensure attractive presentation to consumers to compete with Haram products which presently dominate the markets.
He recommended that Halal food should be made tasty, pleasant and attractive to the eye without artificial additives to draw in consumers. Malaysian Minister for Trade and Religious Affairs Haji Malik Kassim, called for unity of the Muslim Ummah to compete in the global market and underlined that ‘Halal’ be build up into the ‘best brand of the world’.