December 17, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 25, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Dec 16: The Kenyan government has agreed to release the withheld containers of Pakistani rice, an official in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Saturday.

The Kenyan customs had stopped Pakistani rice a week ago on the plea that it did not meet local standards.

When contacted, commerce secretary Syed Asif Shah told Dawn that the issue would be resolved within the next two days. He said only seven containers were withheld on the ground of minor standard issue.

Mr Shah said the trade official posted in Pakistani High Commission in Kenya has informed that the containers withheld earlier have already been released while the remaining containers would be released shortly.

To a question, the secretary ruled out the possibility of fungus in Pakistan rice. He said it was just a small standard issue which would be resolved for ever.