Chela Ram Kewlani, Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), praised the Pakistani government for facilitating the release of 1,300 rice containers stranded at Kenyan ports during a press conference at REAP House in Karachi. Attended by REAP members, including MuzzammilRauf, Asif Ali Shaikh, Salman Paracha, Muhammad Bashir, Mahesh Kumar, and Syed BadaruddinChishti, the conference highlighted the cooperative efforts that led to this resolution. Kewlani detailed how Pakistani rice shipments destined for Kenya missed the 6th April 2024 duty-free deadline due to rerouted shipping through the Red Sea, causing delays in reaching Mombasa port. Approximately 34,611 metric tons of rice were held up. Recognizing the urgency, REAP’s Committee on Kenya, led by Convener RafiqueSuleman, swiftly addressed the issue. Suleman traveled to Kenya, coordinating with the Pakistani High Commission in Nairobi and key Kenyan officials, including Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister H.E. MithikaLinturi and Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Ronoh. REAP extended its gratitude to Pakistani officials, including Commerce Minister Mr. Jam Kamal, Federal Secretary Commerce Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui, and Chief Executive TDAP ZubairMotiwala, for their diplomatic efforts.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Kenya H.E. IbrarHussain and Commercial Counselor Ms. AdeelaYounis were also commended for their instrumental roles. The successful coordination led to the release of the containers and the announcement of a 500,000-ton import duty-free quota by the Kenyan government until 30th November 2024.
