His Excellency Mr Ihsan Ovut, Secretary General of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), paid a significant visit to the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at the University of Karachi (UoK) on Thursday. The visit aimed to strengthen ties and explore potential collaborations in the fields of Halal testing, standardization, and research.
SMIIC, a globally recognized institution under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is dedicated to promoting uniformity in metrology, laboratory testing, and standardization activities among its member states. It also plays a pivotal role in providing education, training, and technical assistance to OIC member countries in these domains.
During his visit, Mr Ovut was warmly welcomed by Prof Dr Farzana Shaheen, Director of ICCBS, and Prof Dr Syed Ghulam Musharraf, Incharge of Halal Certification, Testing, and Research Services (HCTRS) at ICCBS. The delegation also included Mufti Dr Syed Arif Ali Shah, General Manager of HCTRS.
In a meeting held at ICCBS, Mr Ovut praised the center’s contributions to scientific research and expressed his admiration for the exceptional performance of HCTRS in Halal testing. He also showed a keen interest in formalizing a partnership with HCTRS through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would further enhance collaboration in Halal certification and standardization.
Earlier, Prof Dr Farzana Shaheen delivered a comprehensive presentation detailing the extensive scientific and research activities undertaken at ICCBS. She highlighted the center’s recent achievement of securing accreditation from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Accreditation Center, a milestone that underscores its commitment to international standards in Halal testing and certification.
HCTRS, Pakistan’s first fully-fledged, government-backed Halal certification body, offers a one-window solution for Halal certification, testing, training, and research. Prof Dr Syed Ghulam Musharraf emphasized that HCTRS is the only public-sector research institution in Pakistan providing such comprehensive Halal services, reflecting its dedication to excellence and quality in laboratory operations.
In her closing remarks, Prof Dr Farzana Shaheen expressed her gratitude to Mr Ihsan Ovut for his visit and reaffirmed ICCBS’s commitment to advancing research and standardization in Halal testing. She also expressed hope that the proposed MoU would pave the way for greater collaboration between SMIIC and ICCBS, benefiting not only Pakistan but also the broader OIC community.
The visit marks a significant step toward fostering international cooperation in Halal certification and standardization, further solidifying ICCBS’s position as a leading institution in scientific research and Halal services.