KARACHI: Rice exporters have urged the Sri Lankan government to reduce import duty on Pakistani long grain rice.

A visiting delegation of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) to Sri Lanka held several meetings with the government officials, trade bodies and rice importers.

Reap Chairman Rafique Suleman informed the Sri Lankan officials that there are two separate categories of Pakistani rice — basmati and non-basmati.

Super Basmati, PK-385, PK-198/D-98 etc are included in the basmati variety and these are premium quality rice and may be added to the list of luxury item. Whereas Irri-6 and Irri-9 etc are coarse varieties and called non-basmati rice which are cheaper and famous in Sri Lanka.

Average price of non-basmati stands around $325-400 per tonne internationally.

The Reap chairman urged the Sri Lankan officials to rectify the situation by reducing the duty in the larger interest of both the countries.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017