KARACHI: Imran Ismail, Governor Sindh, has assured full support to the rice trade for the betterment of export to earn more foreign exchange.

A high-profile delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) led by Ali Hussam Asghar, Chairman REAP, had a meeting with Imran Ismail at Sindh Governor House Karachi.

REAP delegation was comprised of Senior Vice Chairman REAP Muhammad Anwar Mianoor, MC Members Dr. Muhammad Hafeez, Ch. Zulfiqar Ali, Jahanzeb Jawed, Inamul Haq, Asif Ali Shaikh, former Chairman REAP Rafique Suleman and Vice President Lahore Chamber of Commerce Haris Ateeq.

Governor Sindh welcomed the delegation and said that he and his office are always ready to facilitate rice export sector. He asked the REAP team to give him briefing on the issues and he will take up the matters with Sindh government on priority to make it possible to complete the projects for increase of rice crop. He further assured his full support to arrange a meeting of REAP delegation with the Prime Minister at an early date.

Ali Hussam Asghar appreciated the support of the government for the betterment of export trade of Pakistan. “Our aim is ‘grow more export more’, we cannot increase our exports until and unless we grow more rice,” he added.

He said that REAP would like to meet the Prime Minister to apprise him all the challenges being faced by rice export sector and seek early resolution of these issues.

Muhammad Anwar Mianoor said that exorbitant increase in freight charges and container-availability remains a big problem. If ministry can stop shipping lines from taking away empty containers or put a percentage on the empty containers they can take. This will facilitate containers’ availability for export purpose.

He said that MINCOM has already approved REAP’s proposal for Phytotron Tunnel projects in Sindh and Punjab for seed development/ fastest trials of new rice seeds. REAP team also had meetings with Chief Secretary Sindh & Secretary Agriculture Sindh. He requested Governor Sindh to coordinate with Sindh Government and expedite the matter on fast-track basis.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021