Halal is Arabic word used for
permissible goods. Halal food is that which follows Islamic law which is defined
in the Quran. The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry involves
slaughtering through a cut to a jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe and
animals must be alive and healthy at the time of killing and all blood is
drained from the body. During this process, a Muslim will recite a dedication
known as Tasmiya or Shahada. But there is a debate about point of Halal such as
whether stunning is allowed or not. According to the Halal food authority (HFA),
stunning cannot be used to kill animals. So under Islamic law, halal food should
be free from alcohol, pork, lipids or tobacco.
At international level, Halal food products are also demanded because majority
of Muslims is living in different countries. The current demand of Halal food
products is 35 % from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion in 2030.Although, halal
meat is the product which is demanding more at national as well as international
level. According to the Halal researcher (HRC), the global Halal meat demand has
picked 2.9 billion dollar in 2016 of volume sales. Thailand is the nominated
exporter of Halal certified meat product after the Philippine, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore and India. Brazil exported 1 million frozen Halal chickens
to 100 countries and 300000 of Halal beef product to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and
Iran annually .United states is the third biggest beef exporter in all over the
world and more than 80 percent of its frozen beef is Halal.
In Pakistan, Shafi group of companies which is associated in Pakistan is well
known and leading business which is involved in the export of Halal meat for 50
years. The main companies of Pakistan that are exporting Halal meat to different
countries are Pak Meat Halal Sourcing, Worldwide Trading company- Karachi
Pakistan, and Trade service international, Silver seafood, M F K international
Co. Ltd.
So in the export of Halal meat, Pakistan ranked at 22nd in the world.As the
Pakistan export of Halal meat were 40 million dollar in fiscal year 1999 -2000
that rose up to 90 million dollars in fiscal year 2004-2005.And in fiscal year
2014-2015, the export of Halal meat picked up to 240 million dollars. Federation
of Pakistan chamber of commerce said that global Muslim population constitutes
24% of the total world population but more than 40% of the world Halal trade is
dominated by non-Muslim states. Pakistan share in the total global Halal food
market is around only 28 million dollars just 2.9% of the total Halal meat trade
in 2016. Pakistan is the leading Muslim country but its shares in the global
market are less than Indians that is really embarrassing condition of Pakistan.
The main cause of low export of Halal meat is non-existence of a legal and
recognized authority at the national level that is dealing with the Halal
sector. The low export of Halal meat is also due to local traders who are not
making effort to marketing their products in international markets properly
which is inflicting a great loss to the national economy. And other reasons of
declining export of Halal meat are terrorism, unstable economic condition,
energy crises, high tax rate, freight rate and natural distorted that effect the
economy export and its growth.Another one is flood and earthquake, the major
earthquake in Pakistan appeared on 8 October 2005, which badly affects the
economy condition and exports of Pakistan. In this incident many slaughtered
animals were died and some badly injured, and some suffer from virus like Congo
virus.Now days among all of this, terrorism badly affects the Pakistan’s export
because many incidents took place during 2015 as well as 2016 which badly hit
the industry sector.
As the Punjab chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan could
earn huge foreign currency by spreading the international market of Halal
meat.He also said that 35 Lakh animals would be slaughtered in slaughtering
house annually which was packed with the latest technology and also fulfilling
the economy needs.
So Pakistan can increase Halal meat export by different ways like Pakistan
should import halal meat from other countries and certified it with own
certification house and then send it to the other countries as an exporter.
Pakistan should build modern and hygienic slaughtered houses that can meet
international standard for export of chilled and frozen meat to countries where
demand for Halal meat is growing up.Govt of Pakistan should also take some
important steps for vaccination of slaughtered animals.Govt should also take
many other steps for enhancement of halal meat production and export because
major part of our country is more import and less export. So for becoming a
developed country Govt should try to increase country’s export and decrease
country’s imports. In this Pakistan can become a developed country rather than
developing country.