MULTAN, Dec 16: Basmati growers have strongly opposed the demand of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to cancel the tender of Trading Corporation Pakistan for rice and said that farmers fully supported the government initiative to stabilize the market.

Basmati Growers Association president Chaudhry Hamid Malhi, in a press release issued on Tuesday, said the export of three to four lakh tons of basmati by government agencies would not affect the total rice export potential of four million tons this year and the government decision would assist the rice trade and the farming community.

PASSCO: Divisional Commissioner Syed Muhammad Ali Gardezi took strict notice of suspension in the purchase of rice and paddy and directed PASCCO to get the permission to purchase all verities of rice from the mills.

Presiding over a meeting of officials of Agriculture Department and PASCCO here on Tuesday, the commissioner directed all the DCOs of Multan division to establish monitoring committees of farmers, representatives of rice mills and officials of PASCCO and Agriculture Department to monitor the process of purchase and sale of rice.—Staff Correspondent