KARACHI, Jan 29: The rice exporters will organize ‘Biryani Festival’ in South Africa on the eve of cricket World Cup being held there. The objective of the event is to popularize Pakistani Basmati rice which is known for its aroma.
The members of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) have already committed to contributing around 22,000 tons of basmati rice for the ‘Biryani Festival,’ which finally got the official nod from the chairman, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Tariq Ikram.
The REAP had been pleading to hold the ‘Biryani Festival’ on the eve of cricket world cup and even raised this issue before the commerce minister during his last week’s visit to Karachi.
However, the issue was finally resolved as the EPB chief finally gave his approval on Tuesday, at a dinner given by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan chairman, where Tariq Ikram was the chief guest.
The EPB chairman also agreed to allow concession by sharing the cost of air tickets for the REAP’s eight-member delegation which will fly over to South Africa and arrange the ‘Biryani Festival.’
Responding to another demand raised by the REAP chairman in his address of welcome, Tariq Ikram said that he would himself lead a rice delegation to Iran. Agreeing with Abdul Rahim Janoo, the EPB chairman said it is true that a lot is needed to be done ahead of 2005, when WTO regime will be fully implemented.
The EPB chairman also accepted to transfer the hiring and firing power of the Quality Review Committee’s (QRC) staff members from the Bureau to the REAP.
Tariq Ikram agreed that in year to come China will emerge as largest rice buyer in the world and also from Pakistan. The REAP chairman also drew the attention towards the prospective markets of Philippines, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
He said that Indonesia, which was one of the largest rice buyers from Pakistan had stopped buying rice but purchased around 40,000 tons from the current crop.
Janoo asked the EPB chairman to assist REAP in getting a representation in the KPT’s Board of Trustees because rice exporters confront problems at the stage of export at the port. He said that the former communication minister was in full agreement with the REAP suggestion on this issue.
The REAP chairman also reiterated that sales tax on import of new or reconditioned rice machinery meant for processing, polishing and packing be removed. He also demanded that withholding tax on rice export be reduced to 0.25 per cent from the current level of 1.25 per cent.
He suggested that rice exporters be allowed to import any item from free list free of import duty to the extent of 50 per cent of their export value. This move will encourage investment in rice sector and also promote value addition in the produce, which presently mostly exported in bulk.