Jordan interested in importing 400,000 tons

Official says country looking to dispose of surplus wheat before next crop

ISLAMABAD: In yet another opportunity to dispose of the country’s surplus wheat, the Jordanian government has expressed an interest in purchasing 400,000 tons from Pakistan.

“The Jordanian government has contacted us, expressing interest in importing 400,000 tons of wheat from Punjab and we have referred the case to the provincial government to make necessary arrangements,” said an officer in the Ministry of Commerce while talking to The Express Tribune.

“The provincial government has also expressed its willingness to export wheat to Jordan as it has around 500,000 tons as surplus.”

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research will prepare a summary to be forwarded to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for approval.

An officer in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research also confirmed Jordan’s interest in importing wheat from Punjab.

“The ministry is taking all steps to dispose of the entire surplus wheat stock before arrival of the next crop as the provincial governments have almost exhausted the entire storage capacity in their stores,” he said.

Pakistan’s major agriculture produce includes wheat, rice and sugarcane. Amid falling prices, the country has been stuck with surplus stocks.

“There was another good opportunity to export 500,000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan through a private exporter, but the ECC did not approve the summary,” said the officer.

“This proposal, however, is likely to get approval since the demand has come directly from the Jordan government, rather than a private exporter,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2015.

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