PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Rice Mills Association has announced a nationwide protest to draw attention of the authorities to the plight of collapsing sector linked to thousands of jobs and $2 billion of annual export.
Rice mill owners have decided to stop purchasing paddy from growers and lock the mills putting thousands of jobs and billions of rupees bank loans in jeopardy.
These views were expressed by President Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch while talking to Customs Today.
He said that an emergency meeting of three thousand owners of rice mills has been summoned at central office where plan for sit-in in front of the Parliament House 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.
He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that sector which needs attention of the policy makers.
Baloch said that situation is turning against Pakistan and in favor 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 of Iranian and Middle East markets.
He said that some 3000 rice mills are facing problems while those 1000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice in last two years while lacks of bags are piled up in different districts of Punjab.
He said that exporters are not cooperating with millers to cope with the problem while government is ignoring the critical issue.
He said that the steps taken for rice sector in the budget are insufficient, adding that TCP should buy rice from millers for export, their mark-up should be waived and rice mills should be declared sick industry.
