The government has announced to launch Halal Food Accreditation programme form January next year in order to boost export and local sale. This was decided in the first sectoral committee meeting headed by Director General Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) Anjum Bashir on Tuesday. As sectoral committee give go ahead pre-requisite to launch Halal Food accreditation scheme; the DG told participants that Halal food accreditation scheme would be launched form next month and in first phase only food sector will be accredited. The $4 trillion Halal food market is fast growing with more consumer awareness not only in food sector but also in non-food products, like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, healthcare, toiletries and other non-consumables. Anjum Bashir said this, adding that Pakistan being an Islamic country needs to take advantage of this opportunity and once recognised Halal certified goods/services chain starts; it will help local sale and export. Representative of the private sector, scholars, Ulema and other stakeholders appreciated the efforts of PNAC in this regard.
