ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: The East African Union Countries (EAC) — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania -- have extended for another two years the old rate of customs duty of 35 per cent on import of rice from Pakistan.

A senior official in the commerce ministry told Dawn on Tuesday that the concessional duty would now be available on export of rice to the EAC countries, particularly Kenya, till 2007.

The EAC had earlier introduced additional tax of 40 per cent on import of rice last year, and had put Pakistani rice at disadvantageous position in the EAC market.

According to the official, Pakistan High Commissioner in Nairobi has informed the ministry that the EAC had decided to keep Customs duty rates on import of rice at the 35per cent for another two years.

Meanwhile, all consignments of Pakistani rice containers were also released which were withheld on standard grounds.

Kenya alone imported more than 175,000 tons rice from Pakistan during the last fiscal year followed by Tanzania with 18,000 tons and Uganda 3,500 tons, making a total shipment of non-basmati rice to these countries around 200,000 tons.