FAISALABAD City News

‘No Muslim country among top 10 exporters of Halal food’
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: Muslim countries are far lagging behind in tapping Halal food markets as it can be gauged from the fact that among the top 10 exporters, there is no Muslim country, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.
Addressing the annual function of the UAF National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology (NIFSAT) here on Wednesday, he said that the country share in export of world Halal foods was nominal. He said that Russia, Australia, India, New Zealand, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil and France were among the top exporters of Halal foods. He said: “The time has come to give the value-addition to our products to get foreign exchange.” He said that Halal food market was getting popularity worldwide and had grown to $2 trillion industry in which the Muslim world share was $700 billion. He lauded the government’s decision to set up the Halal Food Authority, which would ensure Halal food and increase exports. Keeping the importance of Halal food in view, the university was initiating undergraduate degree programme in Halal Sciences., he added
Speaking on the occasion, Faculty of Food Nutrition and Home Sciences Dean Dr Masood Sadiq Butt said that the demand for Halal food was increasing day-by-day worldwide. He said that awareness about the significance and health benefits of Halal food had jacked up among the people globally. He said that his faculty had introduced a BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics aimed at promoting the usage of balanced nutrient food and reducing the malnutrition. Later, the UAF vice-chancellor along with a delegation of Indian agricultural scientists inaugurated a bakery set up at the NIFSAT.