Rice exports cross $2bn for second time

[LahoreEstate]

Sunday, June 28, 2009
By our correspondent

KARACHI: Rice exports have crossed the mark of $2 billion for the second consecutive year despite international economic recession.

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Abdul Rahim Janoo stated this in a meeting with Karachi Port Trust Chairperson Nasreen Haque. He said it was only the second time in the history of Pakistan that rice exports had reached the milestone of $2 billion.

Out of the total quantity, basmati exports were 909,709 tons valuing around $1 billion while non-basmati exports crossed $1 billion.

He said Pakistan produced a bumper crop of 6.2 million tons, of which 3.5 million tons were available for exports and the rest would go to local markets. He thanked the KPT chairperson for their support to REAP in cargo handling.

Nasreen Haque said they were working on improvement of infrastructure and repairing some berths which would be completed this year.

She informed the REAP chairman the KPT handled 38.5 million tons of cargo this fiscal year against 37.3 million tons last year. She said they were working on a wind farm project which would generate 50 megawatts of power.


http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=185389