Pakistan earned $18.460 million from the export of livestock from 2012 to 2015 while the country earned an amount of $2,163.1 million of foreign exchange from export of rice during 2013-14. The National Assembly was informed on Thursday during the Question Hour session that promotion of livestock is a provincial subject following devolution of powers under the 18th Constitutional amendment.
Regarding promotion of the livestock exports, the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on the summary moved by Ministry of National Food Security Research imposed ban on the export of live animals with effect from October 01, 2013, Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan informed the house through written reply of a question. He also informed the house that an amount of $2,163.1 million of foreign exchange was earned from export of rice during the year 2013-14.
The minister said the government has taken following steps to increase the export of rice:
I. Ministry of Commerce has recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia for export of one million tons of rice during the next four years.
II. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) organises participation of Pakistani rice exporters in all the leading international food fairs and organises trade delegations to the export markets.
III. Ministry of Commerce through Commercial Sections assists traders to find prospective buyers abroad.
IV. The State Bank of Pakistan is providing concessionary financing under Export Finance Scheme to exporters including those of rice.