PHOTO: FILE
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Halal Foods, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics, jointly organised by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in collaboration with the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) at the PCSIR Complex on Monday.
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The minister said the government was making hectic efforts to provide 100% halal food items to the people. He was of the view that Pakistan, being a Muslim country, must take the initiative and enter the halal food industry.
Hussain said the Pakistan Halal Authority would promote the business in halal food products to capture Pakistan’s share in the international halal food market worth trillions of dollars.
The Pakistan Halal Authority would be tasked to recommend halal standards for the government-notified articles and processes for their adoption in line with the Pakistan National Accreditation Council, he said.
He urged PCSIR scientists to focus on need-based scientific research and contribute to economic progress in the country, a prime target of the government.
Earlier, various speakers of different institutions spoke. They said awareness of halal products had increased among Muslims as the word halal had become a symbol of healthy, wholesome and hygienic food.
They said countries like India and Pakistan had relatively low consumer incomes and consequently exhibited lower per capita protein consumption.
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Despite the lower income levels, this region had been at the forefront of capitalising on the growing halal market, they added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2016.
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