KARACHI (Staff Reporter): International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi (UoK), has signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with two leading research institutions of Thailand to establish collaboration in Halal affairs. This was stated by Director ICCBS-UoK Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary while talking to a delegation of scientists at the ICCBS here on Saturday. He said that the agreement was signed between the ICCBS-UoK, Halal Science Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and the Halal Standard Institute; Thailand in the last December at the Convention Center, Centara Grand, during the opening ceremony of the Thailand Halal Assembly presided over by PM of Thailand.
He said, “Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bhanger has signed the agreement on behalf of the center. ICCBS-UoK has recently setup a special at its Industrial Analytical Center, dedicated to the testing of Halal products. The laboratory is working under the experienced and qualified scientists, including Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bhanger, Dr Kamran Azim, Dr Syed Ghulam Musharraf and Dr Shakeel Ahmed.”
He said that the ICCBS also intended to provide future leaders in the Halal industry arena as well as the required well-trained human capital to cater the needs of the Halal industry in the research, development, innovation and commercialization of Halal food, pharmaceuticals and consumer products as well as various shariah-compliant service industries like tourism and hospitality etc.
Dr Iqbal Choudhary said that the aim of this agreement is to establish collaboration in Halal affairs including accreditation, quality system implementation for Halal products and services performing under responsibilities of each institute.
According to the agreement, these institutions will collaborate to have a common or co-recognized Hala standards or guidelines for the benefit of Muslim consumers in both countries, he added.
