ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday agreed to export 25,000 tonnes of rice on an urgent basis to Sri Lanka which aims to meet its domestic shortfall due to drought.

The understanding was reached in a meeting bet­ween Secretary Commerce Younus Dhaga and his Sri Lankan counterpart Chint­haka S Lokuhetti.

An official statement issued after the meeting said Sri Lanka had requested to procure 300,000 tonnes rice from Pakistan on government-to-government basis.

Mr Dhaga informed the Sri Lankan delegation that Pakistan will initially provide at least 25,000 tonnes.

“We cannot meet the whole demand in one go due to the end of season,” Mr Dhaga commented.

For the remaining quantities, the trading arms of two countries – Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) in Sri Lanka – will discuss procurement schedule and price in Sept/Oct on the advent of new crop.

The two sides also discussed about signing a memorandum of understanding between TCP and CWE for supply of other commodities including sugar.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2017