The Central Standing Committee on Rice Production & Export Promotion, chaired by Rafique Suleman, convened a critical meeting at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to address key challenges facing the rice sector and explore opportunities to enhance Pakistan’s rice exports in 2024-2025.
Rafique Suleman, former chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), led the discussions, joined by industry leaders such as Abdul Rahim Janoo, Group Chairman, Muhammad Javed Jillani, Senior Vice Chairman of REAP, Mahesh Talreja, Abdul Qayum Paracha, Muhammad Bashir, Muhammad Farrukh, and Faisal Anis Majeed. Saqib Fayyaz Magoo, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, also attended the meeting remotely via Zoom.
Impact of Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Actions: Members raised concerns about recent actions taken by the DPP, which have adversely affected exporters. The committee stressed the need for reforms to alleviate the negative impact on rice exports, ensuring that operations for exporters are streamlined and effective. The committee expressed concern over the government’s recent decision to double the taxation on rice exports. This move could potentially hinder the competitiveness of Pakistani rice on the global stage.
The committee unanimously agreed to engage with policymakers and advocate for more export-friendly taxation policies to support the industry. In a bid to diversify Pakistan’s rice export market, the committee proposed the organization of trade delegations to African countries.
These delegations would aim to increase the presence of Pakistani rice in emerging markets, thereby boosting exports and strengthening trade relations. Saqib Fayyaz Magoo, Senior Vice President of FPCCI, assured the committee of the organization’s full support in addressing the challenges raised by REAP. He pledged to leverage FPCCI’s platform to facilitate discussions with the government and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan’s rice exports globally. Abdul Rahim Janoo, Group Chairman, emphasized the importance of sending delegations to explore new markets and increase Pakistan’s rice market share across various countries. He stressed that growing rice exports would benefit Pakistan’s economy by earning crucial foreign exchange. Rafique Suleman, Chairman of the Standing Committee, expressed gratitude to all participants, underscoring the importance of collaboration between the private sector and government to overcome challenges.
He stated, “Pakistan’s rice industry has immense potential to contribute to the economy. Through collective efforts, we can ensure sustainable growth in both production and exports.” Abdul Rahim Janoo and Rafique Suleman presented a shield to Muhammad Javed Jillani, Senior Vice Chairman of REAP, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the rice export sector.
