August 27, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 2, 1427

KARACHI, Aug 26: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has asked the commerce ministry to approach Indian courts to protect Pakistan’s rights over ‘Super Basmati’ and if stay is not granted the issue should be challenged at appropriate international forum.

Unisame President Zulfikar Thaver in a statement issued on Saturday expressed his surprise that why the ministry had not taken action despite the fact that seeds of super basmati rice were stolen and cultivated and now the trade name “Super Basmati” had been encroached by India.

“It has been a long time that Pakistan developed super basmati rice and is the sole owner of this variety and has been successfully exporting this variety overseas and also selling locally,” asserted Mr Thaver.

He urged the authorities to immediately register all varieties and protect the rights of rice exporters.