THIS is apropos the report published recently in newspapers that non-halal edibles, mostly imported, are being sold in Pakistan. Names of some leading brands were part of these reports.

The absence of a ‘Halal Authority’ was attributed by a federal minister to be the reason for this scenario. He promised to set up one within the next few weeks to address this issue.

Pakistan is an Islamic country. I believe absence or presence of an authority is not the issue, nor the solution to this problem. The Customs authority is already functioning here, with all its merits and demerits. It should be vigilant enough to ask importers and exporters for a halal certificate at the time of clearance of all consignments. If it is there, consignments should be released to the importers.

This certificate should be comprehensive enough regarding all its ingredients, to be of Halal/Kosher origin. I don’t think that being a Muslim country there is a need for any constitutional measure for this. Our custom rules already do not allow even the import of pure bristles for painting brushes and similar uses.

I earnestly ask the ministries of commerce and finance and specially all Customs department executives to take measures to clarify the situation and ensure that only Halal and Kosher edibles are imported in Pakistan.

Mumtaz Ahmed

Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2015

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