The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) is planning to set up a 'Rice City' in Karachi in order to facilitate exporters and help enhance export of the commodity to strengthen national economy.
"We are going to put the plan before the TCP Board of Directors in next meeting for approval," said TCP Chairman Riaz Ahmad Memon while talking to Business Recorder at the sidelines of launching ceremony of digital process of TCP authenticity certificate for export of rice.
Senior Vice Chairman REAP Ali Hussam Asghar, former chairman Sami-ullah-Naeem, Pir Nazim Shah, REAP General Secretary Kashif-ur-Rehman and a large number of brown rice exporters were present at the event.
He said although we have sufficient storage capacity but the proposed new facility will be reserved specifically for rice exporters. He said storage will help save the consignment from aflatoxin.
Memon further said that the TCP is going to introduce a website to help exporters of different sectors to search buyers for their goods. He said it will be sort of online commodity market where exporters of surgical instruments, rice, cement or any other exportable items can place their query for buyers. He said that this online facility will have data of importers from different countries. "Idea is that exporters will place their commodity and it will be displaying full profile of the exporters and all the details about the company and the goods on sale including quantity.
The system will generate an email which will go to all the buyers registered on this system thus trying to create a B2B link between Pakistan exporters and foreign importers," he added.
Earlier, addressing the launching ceremony of digital inspection and certificate service, Riaz Ahmad Memon also threw light on this proposal and said they are at present in procurement process of this new software and local talented software engineer is in negotiation with the Corporation. He said that it will provide publicity and fast access to exporters to importers.
Responding to a demand of the rice exporters, he announced to increase the slots of rice analyzers and deputing most of them in Punjab as this province is hub of rice exports, especially brown rice. He said that at present there are two analyzers and 10 more will be added after imparting them necessary training.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Senior Vice Chairman Ali Hussam speaking on this occasion said that 90-95 percent of brown rice is exported from Punjab so the TCP should bring its command and control system to this province to make issuance of certificate and inspection fast and quick.
He also demanded to increase analyzers in Punjab and deputing them region wise. He also asked for speeding up the inspection process and accounts process. He lauded the launch of digital process for inspection and certification and assured to promote it.
Earlier, TCP officials briefed the participants about IT-based digital process of rice inspection and issuance of authenticity certificate launched to facilitate the rice exporters. They said the exporters have to create account on portal, file online application/request to carry out inspection and submit detail documents and bank challan fee.