LARKANA, March 20: The Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association (SBRMTA) has expressed concern over the government’s apathy towards the fake rice exporters and its failure to protect the rice growers and the industry.

The patron-in-chief of the SBRMTA, Gada Hussain Mahisar, in a statement here on Wednesday, alleged that despite repeated complainants, the government had taken no action against the fraudulent rice exporters.

He said that in these conditions, it was impossible for the rice millers and traders to continue their business and promote export of the country.

In a letter addressed to the federal ministers for commerce and agriculture, Mr Mahisar pointed that the rice industry of Sindh and Balochistan earn around $200 million every year from the rice export.

He deplored that due to the lukewarm attitude of the government towards the rice millers, paired with the uncalled for behaviour of the rice exporters, the rice millers had been compelled to close the rice mills and seize to continue their business.

The SBRMTA demanded of the government to take action against the fake exporters.

It further demanded that the Export Promotion Bureau, in association with the Rice Exporters Association (REA), should issue a list of the genuine and registered rice exporters.

The association also demanded to constitute a coordination committee between REA, EPB and the SBRMTA.