LAHORE: The 3rd International Halal Conference concluded recently in Lahore, with the support of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), where the ‘Lahore Declaration’ was signed to urge appropriate measures to promote trade of Halal industry, including food and non-food products.
Before signing the declaration, representatives of Halal trade and industry, government functionaries, organizations and institutions from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Pakistan, deliberated on the issues of Halal trade and industry and measures needed to promote it. Vice-Chancellor of UVAS - Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha chaired the declaration signing ceremony.
The signatories resolved to strengthen relationships among leaders, economic planners, producers, consumers and to promote harmony, peace, compassion, kindness among the stakeholders of Pakistan Halal trade industry and the world by establishing connectivity between national and international markets. They called for creating awareness about Shariah principles and ensure their strict compliance.
They resolved to discharge the sacred duty of providing Halal and Tayyub food and non-food products. Necessary mechanism and measures will be adopted to share with Halal industry the Shariah compliant processes, as well as quality standards of production of Halal food and non-food products.
To ensure Halal and Tayyub products and services, the signatories affirmed that the utilization of Islamic finance, free from Riba is essential as it recognized that a product produced or service rendered by employing Riba-infested finance will remain Haram, despite following the Shariah compliant process of production. They also agreed to take measures to facilitate and share facilities for capacity building of stakeholders of the Halal trade and industry.