Rice traders and millers' in Sindh and Balochistan observed three-day strike, which ended on Friday, to protest over the failure of Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), in purchasing of 0.1 million sugdasi rice, a traditional aromatic variety of Sindh, presently lying in godowns of traders and millers in upper Sindh.
The millers expressed strong resentment over the lack of interest shown by the government in expediting the purchase despite it categorical assurance to purchase the surplus rice stock through TCP.
Responding to a question regarding export of the sugdasi they said the government of Iran had shown interest to purchase this variety from TCP last year.
Referring to an assurance by the government the millers informed that on the representation of rice growers and dealers had agreed to purchase the surplus stock and the TCP had floated a tender to purchase 25,000 tones of rice as first installment but the tender date has been changed twice without assigning any reason which had encouraged irresponsible exporters of basmati rice to adulterate their consignment as such it is adversely affecting the rice export of Pakistan.
The reports from Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Dadu, Badin and Hyderabad, the rice-growing district indicated that entire rice trading remain standstill and buyers from Punjab, Karachi and other places failed to negotiate any deal. The peoples of Larkana also observed token hunger strike in support of rice growers. The sources close to rice millers said that if the issue was not resolved the millers would continue their strike for indefinite period. Around 25,000 daily wagers were the worst victims of the strike.
Comments
Comments are closed.