The rice millers and exporters have warned the government of going on strike for an unlimited period if Ministry of Commerce did not take urgent step to give them proper representation in Quality Review Committee (QRC).

“Giving QRC control to government department and elimination of private stakeholders’ involvement is a setback for rice export, which is already on decline, they added. They urged the Ministry of Commerce to either abolish QRC or give Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan a proper representation in it. They demanded government to give exporters a fair representation in QRC on an urgent basis, as they are the real stakeholders.

Otherwise the exporters will have no option except exporting their commodity any certification. If government does not accept our demands, the exporters may stop the rice exports, they warned. Around 98 per cent of rice exports of Pakistan have been done through Karachi and head office of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan is also in Karachi but all the powers have been given to Director General TDAP Lahore which is not understandable, observed Ch Samee Ullah, the vice chairman of the REAP.

He further said that rice exporters are in trouble due to QRC matters. REAP is contributing a handsome share in country’s foreign exchange but transferring the control of QRC to DG TDAP Lahore will create monopoly and export of rice will severely damage.

It is to be noted that the Ministry of Commerce vide notification number 4(10)/05-E superseded public notice dated March 3,1999 and had taken fiscal and other control of the QRC and placed it under the control of Director General (DG) Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) as its chairman. Exporters are now taking the issue as one of the stumbling blocks in the export of rice. The QRC in government control has created uncertainty about exports, they added.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s step to take control of Quality Review Committee (QRC) from Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will open a new door of corruption, as TDAP officials will demand kickbacks for every quality certificate for rice export at a time when rice trade has already declined by up to 35 per cent due to wrong policies of the government.

He said that association held a meeting of its managing committee which was addressed by REAP chairman Jawed Ali Ghori, demanded the immediate representation of REAP in QRC. The meeting was attended by former chairmen of REAP Abdul Rahim Janoo, Javed Islam Agha, Peer Nazim Hussain and several other members of committee.

He said that genuine exporters would also face delays in trade activities due to the cumbersome documentation and legal proceedings to get their consignments certified from government offices due to control of certification by the government.