Halal: Pakistan ready to set up certification body

Move to help boost exports of non-meat products as well.

KARACHI: The government is all set to start certifying halal products as part of its efforts to target the worldwide halal market – valued at over $1 trillion. The project, aimed at fetching higher returns on exports, will be floated under a public private partnership (PPP) to ensure credibility of the certifications.

CEO Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (Tdap) Tariq Iqbal Puri announced this during a press briefing here on Tuesday.

“It’s not just about getting a higher price. We will also see an improvement in the production quality of goods since certified industries require more vigilance in quality maintenance,” said Puri. It is estimated that local industries can fetch between 20 and 50 per cent more revenues (because of higher prices) because of the ‘halal’ label.

Puri pointed out that the certification would be beneficial for all sectors, not just for those involved in the meat business. “Sixty per cent of the world halal market is of non-meat products, including cosmetics, food items and so on.”

It is interesting to note that Pakistan had no chilled meat exports till 1999 but exports under this head now exceeded $100 million. “Many companies have come in over the past few years that export processed products in frozen categories that have increased our exports manifold,” added Puri.

Pakistan is also preparing to host the Global Halal Congress on December 4 where 27 representatives from 17 countries have already confirmed participation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2010.