KARACHI: Despite huge potential, Muslim countries especially Pakistan
continue to overlook the importance of halal food standardisation and
exports, said Masood Khawaja, President of Halal Food Authority (HFA).
He
said the Muslim countries import much and export less to European
countries and this imbalance sometimes goes up to 80 per cent compared
to 20 per cent exports to Europe.
“Our inspectors who have
experience of inspection of food products in Europe have come to
Pakistan and they are fairly satisfied with the operations of some
slaughter houses here complying with international standards,” he said
adding that there is a lot that has to be done in Pakistan for halal
food.
He was speaking to media persons at the Karachi Press Club
on Wednesday. European countries do not accept products from Muslim
countries because the products contain imported ingredients that may or
may not observe international standards, and same is the case in
Pakistan, he added.
Halal food also means food that is fit for
human consumption hence it fulfils all the international hygiene
standards, said Khawaja adding that Bhombal Group has recently joined
HFA to offer halal food certification in Pakistan.
