KARACHI, Sept 1: The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has extended the bidding date of its tenders for the purchase of rice and potatoes for Sri Lanka to September 7.

TCP Chairman Syed Masood Alam Rizvi said here on Wednesday that the opening of tenders was due on September 1, but the bidding date had now been extended on the request of local exporters.

He said that so far 50 bidding documents had been purchased from TCP against the tenders which was issued on August 27, 2004 for the procurement of 25,000 tons of basmati D-98 quality rice and 1,000 tons of potatoes.

Meanwhile, the local rice exporters have been requesting the high-ups in Islamabad to use their influence to obtain extension from Sri Lankan government in the shipment date up to end of November 2004 against its tender for rice.

They said the variety of rice was short in the country and they could supply the required quantity from the new crop. They pointed out that broken percentage was higher and whiteness of rice was not suitable for offer. However, Mr Rizvi said TCP could not extend the date any further as Sri Lankan government had already intimated its urgency regarding the import of rice. -APP