Bangladesh, Pakistan sign deal to boost halal trade
The new agreement allows mutual recognition of halal certifications, marking a step toward deeper South Asian economic cooperation
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh and Pakistan have signed a new agreement to expand bilateral cooperation on product standards and certification, focusing on mutual recognition of halal goods in a move expected to ease trade and strengthen economic ties between the two South Asian nations.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday between the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) during the 9th session of the Bangladesh–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission.
The accord enables both countries to accept each other’s halal-certified products without requiring additional testing or verification, a step that officials say will reduce regulatory barriers and promote cross-border trade.
Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed led the Bangladeshi delegation, while Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum Ali Parvez Malik headed the visiting team. The MoU was signed by Maksudara Noor, Additional Secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Industries, and Imran Haider, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
Under the agreement, halal-certified goods approved by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) — the country’s national standards body — will be automatically recognized in Pakistan, while products certified by the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA), the government’s halal regulatory agency, will be accepted in Bangladesh.
Officials from both sides described the arrangement as a “trust-building measure” that could boost small and medium enterprises and expand halal-based industries across both economies.
Dr. Ahmed said the discussions at the commission meeting highlighted several priority areas for collaboration, including trade facilitation and regional connectivity. “This agreement is part of a broader effort to strengthen people-to-people ties and promote South Asian economic cooperation,” he said.
Pakistan’s Minister Malik expressed optimism that the initiative would “deepen commercial relations” and “foster confidence in halal product quality” across the region. The two delegations also discussed future cooperation in standardization, technical training, and industrial research.
Analysts say the MoU could help both countries tap into the fast-growing global halal market, valued at more than two trillion dollars annually, while contributing to the broader regional goal of reviving economic integration in South Asia.
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