Islamabad: The Pakistan Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has approved the ‘Pakistan Halal Authority Bill, 2015’, paving the way for the up-gradation of food laws in the country.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held with Senator Usman Saifullah,reports Dawn.
The bill, already approved by the National Assembly in December, will now be presented in the upper house for approval.
The committee members said that laws were needed to discourage sale of items containing Haram ingredients.
They acknowledged that the bill would help increase export of Pakistan’s Halal products and said that even India exported certified items having Halal logo.
The committee was informed that the bill recommended a maximum punishment of three years imprisonment and Rs one million fine for violating the provisions relating to import or export and marketing of items without Halal logo.
Senators agreed that there was a need to establish a single authority to promote trade and commerce of ‘Halal’ aspects of food and non-food items, including leather and other products.(ANI)