Rice City to be set up at Gwadar

With a view to giving boost to the country's rice export, the government has decided to set up a 'Rice City' at Gwadar port. According to information made available to Business Recorder here on Wednesday, necessary paper work in this regard has already been completed. The Rice City will be spread over 300-acre of land, where plots will be given to the rice exporters and members of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) on soft terms and conditions.
In the proposed Rice City, the rice exporters would also get modern storage facilities. Authorities concerned in the federal government in collaboration with the Reap representatives are finalising necessary arrangements for early finalisation of the project, the sources said.
It may be mentioned here that the chairman Reap recently held a meeting with the chief minister of Balochistan and Finance minister Balochistan to finalise arrangements for the proposed city.
The sources said, the affairs of the Rice City would be run through a board of directors comprising representatives from both public and private sectors. This project is a part of the government efforts to enhance rice exports of the country.
Moreover, Director General Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Major Haroon Rashid (Retd.), while addressing an award distribution ceremony of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) here on Wednesday, said that Pakistan is likely to achieve $1 billion target of the rice export in next two years.
Acknowledging the role being played by the rice exporters towards boosting rice export, he said that the EPB is also playing an important role in this regard. Till February 28, Pakistan had exported rice worth $500 million and the figure would cross $700 million by the end of current fiscal, he said.
He was of the view that consistency in the government policies had provided an opportunity to the rice exporters to chalk out future plans. He said that the EPB would continue to extend all out co-operation to the rice exporters.
Asking the rice exporters to explore new markets, he said that the EPB would facilitate the rice exporters in their visit abroad.
He said that rice exporters of Balochistan must also be consulted, as Irri-6 of Balochistan can be marketed in Far East countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdur Rahim Jano, former chairman Reap said that 'Reap House' is being established in Lahore, which would be helpful in resolving problems being faced by the rice exporters.
Syed Najaf Hussain Shah and Chaudhry Mushtaq Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.