Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) vice-president, Shahzad Ali Malik, welcoming abolition of duties by the European Union under its new import policy for rice, has lauded Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan for making concerted efforts in this regard.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, he claimed that Humayun Akhtar Khan had shown personal interest on this issue due to which Pakistani Super Basmati was included in the list of approved varieties for abatement. He also appreciated the role played by Secretary Commerce Tasneem Noorani in this regard who held successful dialogues with the European Commission.
Malik said that in year 2001 as President Rice Exporters Association Pakistan (Reap), he gave a presentation to the President of Pakistan on 'Rice Vision'. The export of rice would touch one billion dollars mark by the year 2005.
He urged Commerce Minister, Humayun Akhtar Khan and Secretary Commerce, Tasneem Noorani to take action of alleged irregularities in Reap and order fresh elections. He also demanded that the minister should order further development on plant breeders rights bill, as it was pending for the past some time.