The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan

The strategic partnership agreement was signed by Professor Dr. Khan Bahadur Marwart, Vice Chancellor, Chief Executive Officer of Halal Research Council Muhummad Zubair Mughal, and Professor Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi - Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. As per the agreement, Halal Research Council will provide international linkages and Halal Certification services to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Halal related industries. Professor Dr. Khan Bahadur Marwart Vice Chancellor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University, addressing the agreement signing ceremony, said that nowadays distinction between Halal and Haram has become a big issue and organizations like Halal Research Council has smoothened this issue for general public through its expertise. He further added that due to this agreement between Halal Research Council and the University, Halal Industry in Pakistan and particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will progress rapidly.

Professor Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a specialty that livestock is in abundance here. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a mountainous area, hence, meat is available in excess here relatively to dairy; and substantial amount of profit can be earned by exporting meat in the international market with Halal logo. The University has been contributing to these effort through various activities under the Dairy Science Park. The first international workshop was held during 2011, attended by 450 participants, 50 speakers and 10 industries. Proceedings and recommendations were published and the activities are being covered extensively at the website http://www.aup.edu.pk/dairy-science-park.php. Fifty papers presented in the workshop, were published by the Journal of Animal and Plant Science with an impact factor of 2.5. The second workshop in this series has been scheduled for November 18-20, 2013. A development project proposal titled Modulating Special economic Zones for Meat and Dairy Production, valuing Rs.110 million was prepared for establishing a business incubation center, farmers welfare centers and a central veterinary laboratory. TIKA-Turkey has been considering the proposal for funding and development assistance from other sources is being sought out. Agribusiness Support Fund has been assisting the University in farmers training, providing diagnostic, clinical and consultancy services and linking the University Feed Mill with Mardan Dairy Farmers Association. Relief International Pakistan has been assisting the University for investigating zoonotic diseases and ensuring safety of the livestock and poultry products. The Faculty has been producing broilers and quails under revolving fund and the activity is helpful in students entrepreneurs development. Registered farmers have been involved in this business in addition to turkeys farming. Our next step is to provide slaughtering and storage facilities to help farmers in getting due return for their business and ensure hygienic food production to the local consumers and export.

Muhummad Zubair Mughal the Executive Officer of Halal Research Council said that the Halal Research Council's agreement with the University will be a milestone in the development of Halal Industry, due to which educational and training efforts along with trade and advancement in Halal sector can be further strengthened. He said that Pakistan's Shariah values are acknowledged all over the world. If we export Halal meat, poultry, dairy, confectionary, spices and other food products from Pakistan to international market, then they will be highly recognized due to our Shariah values. Moreover, he mentioned that Halal Research Council has started an 8-month Post Graduate Diploma to provide trainings on Halal industry internationally, so that experts from food, dairy, livestock and other related departments can enhance their capabilities and knowledge about Halal. This will help them ensure the quality standards in the concerned departments. He also informed that our diploma is acknowledged around the world and many international food and agriculture universities have shown their interests to make the topic of Halal as part of their educational syllabus. It must be noted that Halal Research Council is a Pakistan based institution that is providing Halal Certification and Education & Training in Pakistan and many other countries.

http://www.halalrc.org/pressrelease.php?goback=%2Egde_849387_member_231873051

Prof. Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi
Dean, Faculty of AH and Vet Sciences
Agricultural University, Peshawar-25120, Pakistan
Mobile: 92-300-5877933
E.mail: drmsqureshi@aup.edu.pk, mqureshi@csu.edu.au
http://www.aup.edu.pk/dean.php?f_id=3