ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday clarified that there is no ban on export of wheat and wheat products through land or sea route. In a notification issued here, the Ministry of Commerce said there is no restriction on wheat or wheat products export. The notification said: "As per Ministry of Commerce SRO number 1124 (1)/2010 dated December 13, 2010 there is no restriction on wheat/wheat products export".
According to Asim Raza, Chairman of All Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) the customs officials were not allowing the wheat exporters to export wheat for last few months, and the PFMA wrote a letter to Ministry of Commerce seeking government stance. The Commerce Ministry replied to PFMA that there are no restrictions on the export of wheat.
He said that the Commerce Ministry has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) not to restrict wheat/wheat product exports. Through this notification, it has been clarified that there is no ban on export of wheat and wheat products through land or sea routes. Wheat traders believe that this year Pakistan could export about 6 million ton of wheat/wheat products.
They said that at present in international market wheat prices are varying from $170 to $260 per ton and Pakistan's local wheat production cost is nearly $320 per ton. So, directly wheat exports are not feasible, but wheat products including flour, Soji, Maida and other products could be exported. The exporters said that this year Pakistan could export wheat products worth $840 million as the country has sufficient wheat stocks. Pakistan last year produced over 25 million tons of wheat, while Pakistan domestic wheat requirement is around 21.5 million ton thus 2.5 million ton wheat is available for exports from last year crop. The country has also an estimated 4-5 million tons wheat stocks from 2008-09 and 2009-10 crops while the government keeps 2 million tons as strategic reserve.
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