October 08, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 14, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: Iran has imposed a ban for a period of two months on import of all kinds of rice varieties from all rice producing countries, including Pakistan in a bid to provide protection to the local farmers.

Secretary Commerce Syed Asif Shah told Dawn on Saturday that the issue had been taken up with the relevant quarters but he said that it was found that the ban was for all countries and was not Pakistan specific only.

Mr Shah said that as Iran was not a member of WTO, such action of Tehran could not be challenged. However, he said that the ban would have a lesser effect on Pakistan’s export of rice to Iran.

Rice exporters, however, expressed the fear that the ban was expected to cause millions of rupees loss to Pakistan.