OVER 140 SCHOLARS, EXPERTS TO ATTEND WORLD HALAL ASSEMBLY
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
KARACHI: Over 140 scholars and experts will participate in the World Halal Assembly (WHA) scheduled to be
held on June 4 in Islamabad, a statement said on Monday.
The Halal Association of Pakistan (HAP) and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) are
jointly organising the first-ever WHA duly supported by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC-SMIIC), it
said.
HAP CEO and Secretary General Asad Sajjad said that the eighth board of directors and sixth general assembly
meeting of SMIIC will also be held concurrently with the assembly.
The assembly will be held with the support of following institutions: OIC, SMIIC (Standards and Metrology
Institute for Islamic Studies), IDB (Islamic Development Bank); ICCIA (Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry
and Agriculture); ICDT (Islamic Centre for Development of Trade); ITC (International Trade Centre); HDC (Halal
Development Council); GSO (Gulf Standardization Organization); IIHO (International Islamic Halal Organization);
EMSA (Emirate Metrology and Standardization Agency); DAC (Dubai Accreditation Centre); and international
Halal fraternity, he said.
It is expected that this assembly will be attended by more than 150 delegates from 40 countries, the statement
said, adding that the event will provide excellent opportunities to the Pakistani exporters, traders and
government departments to interact and take advantage of the expert gathering.
Objectives of the event are to invite prominent speakers to give comprehensive knowledge to the audience, in
addition to bring Pakistan on the global halal trade map and inform the opportunities available for the
exporters of Pakistan in the trillions dollar halal market, it said.
The assembly will also focus on the issues and challenges related to halal business, certification, accreditation
and marketing, it said, adding that it will also highlight the role of trade bodies in promotion of the halal trade
and highlight the issues, which could be taken up by the government for the next budget and promotion of
halal exports of Pakistan.
The assembly offers the biggest opportunity for manufacturers, exporters (food, agro and other consumables
and non-consumables companies), government departments, trade bodies, academia, research institutions,
and media, it said.
Participation is free but due to limited seats, registration would be made on first-come, first-serve basis, it said.
Emirates Airline has also joined OIC-SMIIC World Halal Assembly as the official airline. It has excellent
connections to all of the six continents via Dubai with more than 135 current destinations worldwide – and is
offering a Special 10 percent discount on all bookings for the delegates of the World Halal Assembly, the
statement said.
Halal Products and Services Association of Pakistan (HAP) is the first and only trade association in Pakistan
officially registered with the Ministry of Commerce to represent Pakistani halal products and services sectors
and find solutions to the existing issues for promotion of halal trade.
HAP is the initiative of the Halal Development Council (HDC), a registered NGO, dedicated to the development
of halal economy in Pakistan, it added.