Bangladesh, Pakistan ink halal certification recognition deal
The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to prioritise cooperation in national standardisation and the mutual facilitation of halal-certified trade.
The MoU was signed during the ninth meeting of the Bangladesh–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC), held at the NEC Conference Room, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Additional Secretary Maksura Noor, NDC, on behalf of the Ministry of Industries, signed for Bangladesh, while Imran Haider, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, signed for Pakistan. The session was led by Economic Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed for Bangladesh and Ali Parvez Malik, Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum.
Under the arrangement, BSTI-approved halal products will be eligible for export to Pakistan without re-testing, while PHA-certified products may enter Bangladesh on the same basis. Officials said the agreement aims to ease bilateral trade in halal goods and strengthen commercial ties between the two countries.
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Economic Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the dialogue placed importance on broad-based cooperation to improve bilateral relations, adding that efforts are under way to "revitalise SAARC". He expressed hope that the talks would also enhance people-to-people links.
Minister Ali Parvez Malik noted the MoU "ensures that any halal product approved by BSTI will be accepted in Pakistan, and PHA-issued certificates will be accepted in Bangladesh", describing it as a practical step towards expanding two-way trade.
