Friday, April 11, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 4,1429    

$440m earned from export of rice: Khaqan

Islamabad—Minister for Commerce, Shahid Khaqan Abbassi on Thursday informed the National Assembly that Pakistan exported 677,000 tons of basmati rice earning a foreign exchange of US$ 440 million this year. He said while responding to a Calling Attention Notice jointly moved by Abdul Majeed Khan Khananhhail and Chaudhry Barjees Tahir in the Lower House regarding loss of $ 500 million from export of basmati rice this year by getting low unit price against average unit price of basmati.

The Minister said the export and price of basmati rice has increased in the international market while the per unit price of our basmati has also increased as compared to last year.

He, however, pointed out that international market determines the rice price and government has nothing to do with it, adding the private sector exports the rice. Khakan Abbassi said, our brown rice is recognized as basmati rice in the international market and its price is less then the rice of other countries.

Abdul Majeed Khan informed the House that the issue has been created by the previous government and marketing officials of the Commerce Ministry are responsible for it. Birjees Tahir pointed out that the export of Pakistani rice has decrease after introduction of Indian basmati in the international market. He proposed to find new markets for the export of Pakistan basmati rice.—APP