News From : DagangHalal.com (05 Dec 2009)
LAHORE – Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati Saturday announced setting up a Pakistan Halal Products Development Board (PHPDB) as an autonomous body under the auspices of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The board, linked to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) through Islamic Chamber Research and Information (ICRC), will be attached to the S&T Ministry.
The federal minister said the board would help Pakistani producers capture the international Halal market where Pakistan’s share is negligible.
He said the government was searching for able scientists for all 15 research institutes working in the country and it also announced special pay scales for them.
Swati said the S&T Ministry had proposed huge incentives for talented scientists out of the income of research institutes. LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry said the long-awaited establishment of the board, which had been hovering in trade policy clauses for three years, would be practically implemented by the Lahore chamber.
He said it was high time that the Pakistan economy was boosted by recognizing our own strength as well as using the power of Halal that had created a brand new global Halal economy in the world today.
Haroon Shafique Chaudhry of Bunny’s Limited has been appointed the first chairman of the board having 16 members with 11 from the private sector and five from the public sector.
Public sector members are Chairman Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Directors General of Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), National Institute of Food Sciences and Technology (NIFST) (Agriculture University Faisalabad) and Additional Secretary of Industries Ministry while private sector members are: Hasnain Reza Mirza, Permanent Representative of ICRIC/Vice Chairman, Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry (LCCI President), Dr. Farhat Jameel, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Nestle Pakistan, Basharat Ahmed, Advisor Corporate Affairs, Unilever Pakistan Ltd., Saima Arshad, Pepsi Co. International, Farrukh Baig Mirza, Al-Hamd Foods (Pvt) Ltd.