LAHORE - Pakistan has the fourth largest livestock population with over 180 million cattle in the world.  This was stated by Chairman Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA), Justice ® Khalilur Rehman in an exclusive talk with APP here on Sunday.   He said that keeping in view the realities; it was practicable to tap a major share in a rapidly growing global Halal market by projecting and developing Pakistan as a Halal hub and branding its products in international markets. –APP
 At the stage, trade of Halal products is around US$ 3.0 trillion in global Halal markets, in which Pakistan has only $29 million share which can be expanded rapidly in diversified areas including meat and by-products, milk and allied industries, financing, tourism, hoteling, beverages, cosmetics, confectionary, pharmaceutical and personal care etc, he added.
   He said that PHDA had framed a draft to make legislation on import and export of Halal products in which a violater would be awarded imprisonment up to three years with fine of Rs 0.1 million to Rs 1 million. He said the draft of the law was ready and would soon be presented in the federal cabinet for its approval and then in the National Assembly. After the Halal Act, the PHDA would be a certification body which was a requirement for export at international level, he added.
   He said that Punjab Halal Development Agency was a Halal development organization run by the government of Punjab. PHDA aims at formalizing the Halal sector i.e. Halal products’ certifications, Halal business projection, capacity building, compliance regime of Halal food safety standards together with branding Pakistan as a Halal hub in the world.
   Talking about objectives of PHDA, he said it aimed to promote the Halal industry of Pakistan especially meat. It is going to prove a unique platform to galvanize Halal exporters.
   He said their mission was to promote compliance of prescribed Halal standards and certification systems in the light of Shariah advisory services.