Need for establishing 'accredited laboratories' for Halal products stressed

Punjab Halal Development Authority (PHDA) Chairman former Justice Khalil ur Rehman has stressed the need for establishing 'accredited laboratories' for Halal products especially meat to maximise exports from Punjab.

He said that the government is interested in establishing a hub of meat exports in Punjab and the PHDA is conducting training programmes on producing, packing, exporting with Halal standards with the help of other countries like Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

PHDA Chairman was speaking at a meeting of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Standing Committee on "Halal Meat', said a press release issued here on Wednesday. Standing Committee Convenor Nasib Ahmed Saifi also spoke on this occasion. Former Justice Khalil ur Rehman also stressed the need to establish research institutes with the mutual collaboration of the business community and government. He emphasised on maintaining international standards for Halal meat production.

The meeting proposed that the government take immediate measures for the up-gradation of National Airlines (PIA), as its current performance was the main hurdle for exporters of Halal meat. The house also pointed out that unnecessary delays in the flights schedule should be avoided.

The matter of meat stealing during checking and clearing at the airport was also discussed and the committee proposed taking action on this. The house demanded installation of scanning machines at the airports in order to avoid unloading of containers for unnecessary checking purpose. This would not only help in saving time, but also protect the perishable products from damage.

The committee also urged the government to increase the weight limit from 500 kilograms to 1200 kilograms per container. LCCI Standing Committee on 'Halal meat' Convenor Nasib Ahmad Saifi said that it was our moral duty to snub slaughtering of female animals. He asked all the participants to stop slaughtering female animals in their slaughter houses. He emphasised on the need of banning unauthorised/unregistered slaughter houses and maintaining international standards of halal meat. At the end the committee also proposed that the government exempt this sector from unnecessary taxes on shipment offloads as exporters are forced to pay taxes repeatedly for the same shipment.

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