LARKANA, Sept 22: The executive committee of Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association in its meeting held here on Sunday demanded the revival of the Pakistan Rice Board.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, association president Gada Hussain Mahesar said after the resignation of the Pakistan Rice Board chairman, Parvez Masud, on May 19 the body had remained inactive.

He said Mr Masud tendered his resignation when the ministry of commerce and industry deviated from the commitment of providing initial funds to the board.

He said if the ministry of commerce was interested to promote production and export of rice, it should constitute a non- controversial body with a neutral and independent chairman.

He said the meeting decided to form an independent body to break the monopoly of the REAP and find new markets in Iran, Dubai and South Africa at the outset and later on would broaden its net.

Mr Mahesar said the meeting expressed satisfaction over the positive response from the State Bank of Pakistan regarding refunding of the over-charged mark-up on paddy loans.

The meeting also opposed the Universal Tax Assessment scheme, he said.