Pakistan Seeks Malaysian Halal Expertise To Boost Bilateral Trade

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Pakistan is keen to tap into Malaysia’s well-established halal industry to diversify and enhance bilateral trade between the two countries, said High Commissioner of Pakistan in Malaysia, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah.

He said Malaysia is one of the top proponents of the halal industry in the world and Pakistan would like to expand its halal sector not just in the food and beverages industry but also in other relevant sectors.

“I think what we are lacking in Pakistan is a real halal certification body. That is why there are not as many exports of halal products from Pakistan because we do not have a proper halal certification body.

“The government of Pakistan is establishing that now, and the two prime ministers (Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif and Anwar Ibrahim) have spoken about the export of halal meat and other products from Pakistan recently,” he told Bernama after attending Bernama TV’s “The Nation” programme here Monday.

Syed Ahsan highlighted that relevant authorities from both nations are working together, including the Pakistan Halal Authority and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), as well as the Department of Veterinary Services to synchronise the halal industry mechanism.

“There is progress in this respect and once this mechanism is agreed upon, we will be able to export many more from Pakistan as well as import more of Malaysian halal products.

“We realise that halal is not just food, it is everything from tourism to banking and eco-friendly practices. That is what we have learned in Malaysia and we have to adjust to this now that halal encompasses a whole range of items,” he said.

According to the high commissioner, Pakistan and Malaysia’s bilateral trade currently stands at around US$1.5 billion (US$1=RM4.45) annually, which is envisioned to further expand in the future.

He said the balance of trade is in favour of Malaysia because Pakistan imports a lot of Malaysian palm oil, engineering products and electronics items.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s major export items to Malaysia include vegetables, fruits, rice, textiles and leather items, among others.

“For instance, Malaysian exports are almost US$900 million, while ours are US$600 million. We need to enhance that quickly,” Syed Ahsan noted.
-- BERNAMA