"
"
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI), emphasized the vast potential for Pakistan to enhance its exports of halal products. He urged the government to collaborate with the private sector to tap into this untapped opportunity and strengthen the country’s economy. Currently, Pakistan’s share in the USD trillion global halal market is minimal, and Ahsan Bakhtawari believes the government should formulate favorable policies for the halal industry to raise exports to USD 5-6 billion within a few years.
He highlighted the significance of adhering to strict halal standards, quality certifications, and government support to significantly increase halal product exports. With halal meat being one of the fastest-growing markets globally, contributing 16 percent to world trade, Ahsan emphasized that Pakistan, as a Muslim country, should fully capitalize on this sector. Rather than relying solely on Arab countries, he suggested targeting China, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Central Asian States for halal meat exports. He also called for the establishment of special Halal meat zones with a 10-year tax holiday to attract new investments.
Ahsan Bakhtawari expressed his belief that Pakistan possesses all the necessary elements to play a significant role in the global halal meat industry and become a market leader. By leveraging its status as a Muslim country, Pakistan can build credibility and market its halal products worldwide. He further recommended exploring avenues in seafood, ostrich, mutton, and poultry farming to diversify economic outreach and contribute to the country’s overall food security.
Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President of ICCI, and other speakers also emphasized the export potential of the halal industry and called for government cooperation with the private sector to boost exports in this sector.
