LAHORE - During 4th International Halal Conference & Exhibition-2015, jointly organised by Punjab Halal Development Agency (PHDA) and USAID-Punjab Environment Enabling Project (PEEP), MoUs worth Rs200 million were signed.
While talking at the closing session, Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Khan, Chairman PHDA, said that he appreciated the efforts rendered by all stakeholders and staff of PHDA on the successful conduction of Conference & Expo. This event will open new business horizons in the market, he added.
Exhibitors from the livestock, meat, poultry, dairy, edible oil, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, beverages, Islamic financing and other related areas showcased their products at the exhibition.
Asif Nazir Khan, Marketing Director of Tijarat Worldwide, the exporter of halal food and meet, while talking to The Nation, observed that the government should support the Halal industry to boost up the GDP of the country as Pakistan has potential to export meat and allied products to the world.  He said that the global halal food industry has an estimated value of $3 trillion; it is growing and expanding rapidly along with Halal financing of trade in food items (beef, mutton and beverages), oil seeds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc. Pakistan’s halal meat industry, estimated at $115 million, has great potential for growth. With growth in population and opening markets, the global demand for halal products and services continues to increase, Asif Nazir added.
He said that annual halal conference and exhibition provided a platform to develop business linkages, giving participants an opportunity to talk about the international trade and investment potential of Pakistan’s Halal industry, he added.
Mian Ahmed Shuja-ur-Rehman, the chairman of the company, stated that the government should improve the business environment by promoting policy and regulatory reforms through private sector-led advocacy. These reforms would spur investment in dairy, livestock and horticulture sub sectors, leading to fast-paced employment generation. The mover would also help increasing the institutional capacity of public and private sector organizations to support and sustain policy reforms at the provincial and federal levels, Ahmed Shuja added.