Rice exporters elect new body

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has elected Javed Ali Ghori as its new chairman, Chaudhry Samee Ullah as vice chairman and Abdul Majeed Ghaziani as treasure unopposed for the year 2012-13. Likewise from North Zone from in Corporate Class Mian Mohsin Aziz, Laeeq Ahmad, Shahid Hussain Tarar and Muhammad Anwaar, while in Associate Class Waqas Asghar were elected unopposed as members of the Managing Committee.
Moreover, the REAP elected three Managing Committee members from corporate class in South Zone too, including Rafique Suleman, Shahid Tawawalla and Muhammad Tahir while one member was elected from associate class in the same zone, ie, Mohammad Kazim Khandwala. Results were announced at the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association held on Saturday evening.
Addressing the participants, incoming REAP Chairman Javed Ali Ghori thanked the out going body and appreciated the services rendered by it to boost the rice trade. He further said that he would strive to devise a 'Vision-2020' with the help of new managing committee to boost the rice exports and resolve numerous challenges faced by the rice industry. He said that new body would work hard to search new markets for not only stabilising the rice trade but to take exports to a new level.
He also stressed the need for improving the rice quality and introducing new seeds in this regard. However, he said that sowing of hybrids should be discouraged and basmati should remain the basmati. He also called for reducing the post-harvest and milling losses.
The newly elected Chairman Javed Ali Ghori and Vice Chairman Chaudhry Samee Ullah thanked the outgoing Chairman and appreciated the work done by the previous managing committee. They assured the members that the new Managing Committee will continue working as a vibrant and active body, in spite of a very difficult economic environment and many hurdles faced by the industry.
Earlier, Safdar Mehkari, the outgoing acting chairman, highlighted the events and activities undertaken by REAP during last year. He congratulated Javed Ali Ghori and Chaudhry Samee Ullah on their elections as Chairman and vice chairman. He welcomed the newly elected Managing Committee and said that he and his team had tried to resolve the rice exporters issues to a great extent but challenges still remain.