KARACHI: Rice exporters have asked the government not to get involved in rice trade as it would be damaging for the private sector.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) Chairman Rafique Suleman said that instead of entering into rice trade, the government should help growers by giving direct subsidy.

The Reap chief cautioned that in case the government enters the market, the country could lose foreign markets captured by rice exporters.

He said that world rice market is currently depressed and rice exporting countries are facing tough competition. Suleman reminded that in the year 2008 PASSCO procured 200,000 tonnes of rice on higher prices to help growers but unfortunately till this day those stocks are lying in godowns. The exercise cost Rs24 billion to the national exchequer.

Published in Dawn, November 22th , 2014