Pakistan: PHDA to hold ‘Halal conference & exhibition’

Pakistan FlagPunjab Halal Development Agency’s Chairman Justice Khalilur Rehman Khan announced on Tuesday that his agency would hold the ‘fourth International Halal Conference and Exhibition’ on March 10-11, to educate stakeholders about Halal products business in Pakistan. In his press conference at the Lahore Press Club, he said Pakistan was a natural hub of Halal trade since more than 97 percent of the country’s population was Muslim producing and consuming Halal products.

“Keeping in view the importance of Pakistan, PHDA is exploring the Halal trade potential of Pakistan by conducting the fourth International Halal Conference and Exhibition and we’re educating the stakeholders about the potential of Halal products business available in Pakistan which can play a vital role in promotion of the Halal Industry around the globe with the help of the stakeholders as it is also religious obligation of Muslims.”

He talked about quality and brand management of Pakistani export’s products, saying they were hardly up to the international standards, and so traders should raise their products and packing quality to attract customers. He said Pakistan had all required resources to be the Halal product’s centre in the world “but to tap the lion’s share; we need to develop high quality products. PHDA every year conducts the annual Halal event to boost the Halal trade volume of Pakistan”.

He also said the upcoming event this year was being held in collaboration with the USAID-Punjab Enabling Environment Project (PEEP). “It will showcase the livestock and allied industries potential of Pakistan among the international community visiting Pakistan for this event. The agency has helped more than 30 international potential buyers and exhibitors to visit Pakistan to observe the livestock and Halal value chain in the country.” He said meat, poultry, dairy and by-products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beverages, Islamic financing and other related industries were eligible to participate in the event.