February 26, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 18, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 25: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) will issue the “certificate of origin” for the export of long-grain basmati rice to Sri Lanka under zero-duty facility on first-come-first-served basis.

According to a TDAP official here on Monday, the certificate of origin will be issued till the exhaust of entire quantity of tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 5,500 tons of basmati rice for 2008. Sri Lankan public sector agency will import 500 tons of basmati rice duty-free.

The official said that this certificate will be issued upon submission of copies of “bill of lading” along with the commercial invoice and the original copy of quality certificate by the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) or Quality Review Committee (QRC) certifying that the consignment is long grain basmati rice.

He pointed out that the TDAP will issue certificate of origin on post-shipment basis only.

He said Sri Lankan Department of Commerce will not allocate any quota to the importers in Sri Lanka.

He said that Sri Lankan importer will now apply for the issuance of letter of recommendation through their Commerce Department to the Ministry of Finance.

The official said that these measures have been taken to fully utilise the available quota. —APP