Rice exports: PM Office awaits input of finance ministry

Country is aiming to increase exports from $2 billion to $3 billion.

ISLAMABAD: Finance ministry and provincial governments have yet to give their inputs on a proposal prepared by Prime Minister Secretariat in May this year to enhance rice export.

The Prime Minister Secretariat had sent a proposal to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFSR) with nine suggestions to increase the country’s rice exports from the current $2 billion to $3 billion.

The NFSR ministry has sent letters to the provincial governments and concerned ministries including the finance ministry requesting their input.

PM secretariat had asked the finance ministry to provide subsidy to rice growers and NFSR ministry had sought their input accordingly. However, sources in the ministry said that the finance division has yet to submit its take on the proposals.

In the proposal, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) was directed to purchase high quality rice to export to Europe, US, Middle East and asked the commerce attachés in these countries to explore new markets for Pakistani rice.

It was also mentioned in the proposal that the rice growers must be given incentives - as provided by Thailand, Vietnam and India - to its rice growers and exporters.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2016.

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