PAKISTAN’S HALAL FOOD AUTHORITIES: A RESEARCH AND ANALYTICAL STUDY

پاکستان میں حلال فوڈ اتھارٹیز: قیام، مقاصد اور اثرات

Abstract

Halal food is an important part of Muslim life and has gained wider importance in the modern food industry. The growth of processed foods, imported ingredients, food additives, modern production methods, packaging and international trade has made the determination of halal status more complex than it was in the past. In Pakistan, this changing situation has gradually led to the development of an institutional system for halal regulation, certification, standardization and supervision. The establishment of the Pakistan Halal Authority under the Pakistan Halal Authority Act, 2016, the Punjab Halal Development Agency, and the institutional arrangements relating to halal food in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa represent important steps in this direction. At the same time, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority has developed and adopted a number of standards relating to halal food, certification bodies, accreditation, halal supply chains and halal quality management. This study examines the background, objectives and working structure of halal food authorities in Pakistan and analyses their role in protecting consumers, improving confidence in halal products, supporting domestic trade and strengthening export opportunities. The study also identifies challenges relating to coordination, awareness, certification, technical capacity and implementation. It concludes that Pakistan has developed the basic institutional framework for halal regulation, but greater coordination between federal and provincial institutions, stronger scientific and Shariah-based verification, improved public awareness and a more integrated system of certification and traceability are necessary for achieving the full potential of Pakistan's halal sector.