LAHORE: The Republic of Tatarstan is ready to work with Pakistan for promoting halal food, its Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Denis Vgleen said on Monday.

Talking to Dawn on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of the sixth two-day International Halal Conference and Exhibition, Mr Vgleen said he didn’t consider halal food on the basis of religion as it was also hygienic and of good quality.

He said Tatarstan, which has no laws on halal food at present, was preparing to introduce a law after obtaining approval from its federal authorities. “If it happens, we will be able to do a lot for the promotion of the halal sector,” he said. “That’s why we have stationed our representative in Pakistan.”

The deputy minister said his country wanted to strengthen relations with Pakistan by working together in other sectors as well. Speaking on the occasion, provincial minister for livestock and dairy development, Saeed Manais, said Pakistan had a capacity to become a kitchen of halal and hygienic food for the world.

He said the government was working to promote the halal sector in Pakistan as well as other countries.

Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin said that since the concept of halal food was becoming more common, Pakistan could earn a distinguished name in the world for its range of halal food products.

During the event, halal food experts and officials representing various countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, Tatarstan, the United Kingdom, Turkey and some Middle Eastern nations presented their research papers.

They also agreed on promoting halal food exports in collaboration with Pakistan. It was agreed that as many as 40 businessmen from the sector, who also attended the inaugural ceremony, would soon visit Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2017