ICCBS-UoK, Thailand sign MoU on Halal research affairs
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.
Unisame urges SBP to enhance credit to MSMEs sector
ISLAMABAD(NNI): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) on Sunday urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to enhance credit to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector to boost exports. President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said in view of the declining exports it is very necessary that the SBP come up with schemes to enhance the credit to the MSMEs who need priority financing facilities at subsidized rates to meet global challenges. Thaver pointed out that MSMEs are facing difficulties in obtaining pre-shipment and even post shipment financing from commercial banks due to their mindset.
It is very important for the SBP to emphasize the need for the practice to accept non tangibles as collateral to broaden the scope of risk management.
He said MSMEs who are exporting goods to third world countries are facing refusal from commercial banks who are unwilling to finance against letter of credits (LCs) from third world countries and banks of low rating. In order to boost exports it is very important that LCs from third world countries and low rating banks are accepted for negotiations and discounting after being covered by insurance or confirmation by first class banks.
APBF condemns terror attack
LAHORE (Staff Reporter): The All Pakistan Business Forum, while condemning suicide bombing at Lahore Church, termed it a conspiracy to aggravate law and order situation and urged the government to take serious notice of it. APBF President Ibrahim Quresh said that economic conditions would not improve unless law and order was seriously tackled. He also sympathised with the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic blast. APBF President said the major aim of the anti-state elements behind this blast was to divert foreign investments away from the country and halt economic activities. He vehemently condemned the terror incident and said it could aggravate law and order situation in the country therefore there was a need to review the security strategy to cope with the anti-Pakistan elements.
He said business community could not be cowed down by such cowardly incidents but rather it would unite them to deal with the enemies of the country.
“The APBF understands that law and order is a major cause of decline in local and foreign investment and if the government fails to respond to private sector’s call, the economy will continue to slide ultimately resulting in closure of industry and trade,” he said.
Ibrahim Qureshi said the business community believed that it was a well thought-out plan to create religious divide as the timing set for that cowardly act spoke itself about the nefarious designs of the anti-social and anti-Pakistan elements.
He said business community would continue to play its role towards the well-being of the economy as it understood that the Church blast had been carried out to shatter the confidence of the private sector and also to tarnish the image of the country. “It seems that some foreign hand is active to tarnish the image of Pakistan which is now being considered as a land of opportunities,” said the APBF president. He urged all the heads of the political parties to join their heads and give a strategy to the government to eradicate the menace of terrorism and extremism which had jolted the very basis of the country.
Development of agriculture sector must for peaceful world: Bosan
Islamabad (INP): Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R), Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan has said that development of agriculture sector was vital to ensure harmony and peace in the world. “Agriculture is directly related to food security and the world would become peaceful place if this sector is promoted,” Bosan said while addressing the inaugural session of two-day 3rd PARC & FAO-AAN Share Mela-Farmers’ Alumni Association Network here. He also stressed the need for creating public networks among farming communities that would provide solution to various issues faced by the country. The two-day AAN Mela has been organized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the PARC.
As many as 200 farmers from across the country including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces are participating in the two day moot.
The Federal Minister said that about 80 million of country’s population was associated with agriculture, however providing them access to the latest technology was still a challenge.He said various organizations including PARC, provincial research organization and various non-governmental organizations have been playing their due role for the development of country’s agriculture sector.
He lauded the efforts of FAO for successfully creating a network that provides an opportunity to farmers as well as scientists to get together and share their experiences and knowledge.
International plastic printing & packaging exhibition ends
Lahore (Online): The 11th International Plastic, Printing and Packaging Exhibition and Conference - 3P Pakistan 2015 was held at Expo Centre, Lahore, which were attended 15,000 visitors from various countries. Chairman Board of Investment Dr. Miftah Ismail inaugurated launching ceremony of the event. Deputy Head of Missions - Hungary Embassy Mr. Janos Lastofka was the chief guest at the conference. The three days was exhibition attended by industry professionals from plastic, printing and packaging industry, members of different associations and trade bodies, students, along with NGOs, policy makers, scientists, civil society organizations and journalists.
On the second of 3P- Pakistan 2015 Conference proficient and learned professionals educated the audience with most modern knowledge, trends and developments in the plastic industry.
Around 250 companies from 25 countries participated in the event. The event was held with the support of Government bodies and trade association which play a vital role in developing and promoting the local industry at the global level.
The exhibitors appreciated the efforts of FAKT Exhibitions for providing a platform, which gathered industry’s potential clients. The visitors expressed their interest in the machinery and technology on display.