PTI govt intends to lift rice exports to highest-ever level

Abdul Razzak Dawood holds meeting to thrash out proposals for enhancing exports

ISLAMABAD: Rice is the largest agriculture commodity in the export basket of Pakistan with total export value of over $2 billion annually, which will be increased up to $5 billion in the coming five years, said Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.

He stated this during a meeting with a delegation of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) on Monday. The meeting was aimed at chalking out policy proposals in order to enhance exports of rice up to $5 billion over the next five years.

Dawood appreciated all the proposals presented by REAP and assured the association of full cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce in that regard. He asked the delegation of rice exporters to introduce new varieties of rice in order to enhance production and quality of the commodity by investing in research and development work.

“All bottlenecks in the way of rice exports will be removed as soon as possible through effective coordination and cooperation with all the relevant government ministries and departments,” the adviser said.

He pointed out that rice exports to China and Indonesia were on an uptrend due to the additional market access secured by the government. “The government intends to lift exports to the highest-ever level,” he remarked.

“The government is taking different measures for enhancing exports including recapturing traditional markets besides enhancing access to new markets,” he added.

REAP President Syed Almas Hyder appreciated the government’s endeavours to boost exports of traditional and non-traditional products.

The delegation presented various proposals for achieving the envisaged targets, which included better farm practices, higher crop yields through water management, mechanical transplanting, drying and storage, and balancing, modernisation and replacement (BMR) of existing rice mills.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2019.

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