ISLAMABAD: While the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) is in hot water for allegedly making appointments of high officials in violation of rules, the ministry has asked the Establishment Division to urgently create posts of three director generals (DG) for the planned establishment of Pakistan Halal Food Authority (PHFA).
The ministry has also written a letter to the Ministry of Finance for sanctioning the required fund for the authority. The government had approved the establishment of PHFA in 2015 through a bill passed in the parliament. However, arrangements for the same could not be made during the past two years for unknown reasons, reliable sources informed Pakistan Today.
Showing his displeasure over the lack of progress on the delay, Science and Technology Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, during a recent meeting had asked officials of the ministry to speed up the process. The minister also directed the senior officials of the ministry to expedite their efforts to fulfill all prerequisites, including hiring of staff and approval of recruitment rules through the Establishment Division on priority basis. MoST Secretary Yasmin Masood, PHA DG (acting) and other senior officials of MoST were also present in the meeting.
According to sources, it was also decided in the meeting that temporary offices of the PHFA would be set up in Islamabad and Karachi. A director general would head the authority while two acting director generals would assist him, along with other officials and staff.
The ministry had also asked the Finance Division to make arrangement for purchase of vehicles for the officials and staff to be recruited for PHFA.
However, an official at MoST claimed that the Establishment Division and the Ministry of Finance have been non-cooperative in the establishment of the authority. Besides, the PHFA, established under the MoST, was not acceptable to many as they believed that it should either function under the Ministry of Commerce or the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The authority was aimed at regulating trade in food products strictly within the limits of halal food per Islamic laws. The authority was established for some time, but unfortunately it became dysfunctional soon after.
The authority was established to help Pakistan secure a large market for halal food that is worth trillions of dollars on the international level.
The Punjab government already has a Halal Development Agency, but the new federal law would be applicable to every city and town of Pakistan.
According to a statement of the ministry, the scope of halal sector covered a wide range of items such as food, pharmaceuticals, health, food supplements and toiletries. 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 to promote halal food.
The proposed Pakistan Halal Food Authority is to recommend halal standards for government-notified articles and processes for adoption by a National Standards Body in accordance with comprehensive guidelines set by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, provide for certification of Halal products and authorize a Halal logo.
