January 09, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 29, 1428

KARACHI, Jan 8: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has assured rice exporters to resolve their problems pertaining to shipping and price cap imposed by some countries and banking issues related to exports to Iran.

In a meeting with delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, headed by Raheem Janoo, the chairman of the TDAP, Tariq Ikram, assured that their demands would be looked into and that a meeting would be held with shipping companies to resolve their problems.

A TDAP team will also tour rice fields to assess problems and look into issues confronting growers, millers, traders and exporters.

It would also hold a follow-up meeting with the ministry of food agriculture and livestock (Minfal) for setting up a research and development facility for rice crop.

The delegation members apprised the TDAP chairman about the problems being confronted by rice exporters in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as both the countries have imposed price control over Pakistan rice.

Similarly, with UN sanctions on Iran, some local markets are reluctant to open L/Cs and thus only encouraging smuggling of rice from Pakistan to Iran and official channels are drying out.

The TDAP would organise seminars and workshops to highlight rice trade problems and also create awareness about R&D need for developing new varieties.