The Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Development (ICCD) has signed a landmark agreement with the Halal Certification Testing and Research Services (HCTRS) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, to strengthen and advance Halal certification and research.
The agreement was formalized during a meeting in Karachi, where Prof Dr Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS, and Sheikh Yousef Hasan Khalawi, Secretary General of ICCD, signed the document on behalf of their organizations. The event was attended by senior officials, including Prof Dr Syed Abid Ali.
ICCD, an international organization headquartered in Karachi and affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), represents the private sector of the Islamic world through national chambers of commerce and private sector bodies of OIC member states.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Dr Raza Shah called the agreement a milestone in the field of Halal testing and research in Pakistan. He highlighted that HCTRS, a Halal Certification Body established within ICCBS at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, provides certification, testing, research, and training services. ICCBS, he added, stands among the country’s leading institutions in chemical, biological, and biochemical sciences and continues to serve as a hub for international scholars.
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Under the agreement, ICCD and HCTRS will set frameworks for Halal certification, develop a database for Halal research, create a global network of testing centers, and design scientific and educational materials. The collaboration also paves the way for launching new initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening global Halal standards.