(18 April, 2018)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President AKIA, Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Wednesday said halal food is amongst the fast growing markets in the world due to increased demand across the globe. Demands for Halal products have significantly increased in the Europe and US due to rise in Muslim population. Pakistan’s meat market is 100 percent comprised of Halal which have largely demanded not only in the Country but also directly exported to Afghanistan, Central Asian countries and Far East.
Mian Zahid Hussain said Pakistan stands at 19 with respect to exports of Halal products while the industry has experienced a record of growth of USD 244 million in 2015 as compare to USD 14 million annually in 2013. In addition to 2 billion Muslim population of the World, 500 million non Muslim use Halal products which creates huge consumer World market for this sector. Halal products not only mean Halal meat, rather this industry is spread over many sectors including Meat & Poultry, Food Manufacturing, Food Retailing, Restaurant Chains, Food Service Industry, Standards, Auditing, Certification and Personal care products.
The veteran business leader while talking to the business community said Halal Industry Research Center (HIRC), Pakistan’s first Halal certification body and country’s first research based Shariah advisory organization. Globally, halal beef export is the leading commodity and Pakistan has potential capacity & resources to become a major player in this domain. Naturally, the country has numerous positive that can boost the country’s export. Pakistan is an agricultural country with resources for rearing of meat animals. Secondly, geographical location and proximity to meat exporters & importers like China, Middle East, Russia, Iran and Central Asian countries. Lastly, Pakistani beef quality and surety of being Halal is far greater than the leading meat exporter in the world. Instead of all this, Pakistan is still lagging behind to get his share global halal industry.
The former minister said the interest and demand for Halal-certified products and services continues to increase across global markets, making Halal not just a religious obligation, but also a powerful market force. Government should take immediate steps to take this huge potential industry to the righteous level in the global market.
