ISLAMABAD: The rice millers have decided to start a countrywide protest over neglecting the sector by the government and to draw attention of the authorities to the plight of collapsing sector linked to thousands of jobs and two billion dollars of annual exports.
Pakistan Rice Mills Association President Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said this while talking to Dr Pakistan Economy Watch President Murtaza Mughal. He said that an emergency meeting of three thousand owners of rice mills has been summoned at Kamonki where plan for sit-in in front of the Parliament and other details would be finalised.
Baloch said that authorities have turned a deaf ear to the plight of this sector as they are focused on welfare of exporters only putting interests of planters and growers on the back burner. The government needs to bail out sinking rice sector responsible for over two billion dollars of exports, largest outside textiles, otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring country, he added.
He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention of the policy makers.
Baloch said that situation is turning against Pakistan and in favour of India which has introduced its own brand lacking aroma but increased in length. Indian rice is cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and Middle Eastern markets.
