Extortionists start targeting rice shipments

Several attacks on trucks carrying rice were reported near Ghagar Phatak, a check post near Nooriabad, Karachi.

KARACHI:

With no check in sight and no one to thwart their evil plans, extortionists have now started targeting rice consignments, threatening exports of a key commodity of the country.

Extortionists are reportedly demanding money from rice traders and are even attacking the trucks plying the National Highway, especially on the outskirts of Karachi, disrupting export shipments, said Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Jawed Ali Ghori on Saturday.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ghori said the extortionists had stepped up their activities in the last five days during which they attacked several trucks carrying rice. Most of the attacks took place near Ghagar Phatak, a check post near Nooriabad, Karachi.

“This situation is hurting rice exports,” he said. “Truck drivers avoid taking orders for transporting rice from different parts of Sindh to Karachi because of lack of security arrangements on the National Highway.”

He asked the Sindh government to take up the matter and order police to provide protection to the traders. The extortionists targeting the rice traders were different from the ones who had made life hell for the business community in Karachi, he said.

Rice shipments are getting delayed and that may cause problems for the exporters as they will not be able to meet export commitments to the buyers.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, rice exports in the previous fiscal year 2011-12 stood at 3.29 million tons, down 10.2% from 3.67 million tons in 2010-11.

Despite that, Pakistan is the fourth largest exporter of rice after Thailand, Vietnam and India.

In view of the threat from the extortionists, the transport of fresh rice crop, which is ready in Sindh, is also not possible. Growers fear that in the absence of proper storage arrangements, the quality of their rice may be affected if supply to the market is delayed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2012.