Islamabad: Pakistan has emerged as a leading figure in food safety standards for the fiscal year 2023-24, capturing an impressive 25% of the European rice market, according to a new source on October 8.
In line with the details, this success was underscored during a meeting between the newly appointed Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Malik Faisal Jahangir, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal. Their discussions centred around strategies to sustain this momentum in rice exports, despite fluctuating global prices and India’s decision to lift its export ban in October.
Jahangir proudly noted that Pakistani rice exporters recorded just 74 rapid alerts for pesticide or other concerns last year, a stark contrast to India’s 264. He highlighted this as a testament to Pakistan’s strong adherence to food safety regulations.
Though acknowledging that negative campaigns could potentially impact Pakistan’s export reputation, Jahangir emphasised the country’s ability to navigate regulatory challenges more effectively than its competitors.
The commerce ministry has eliminated the minimum export price requirement to strengthen Pakistan’s competitive edge further, positioning the country more favourably against India.
However, the industry remains mindful of the potential impact of global price fluctuations on export revenues. Commerce Minister Kamal reaffirmed the critical role of rice exports in Pakistan’s economy, expressing optimism about increasing export revenue from USD 4 billion to USD 6-7 billion while continuing to meet European food safety standards.
As a graduate in English Literature, Zohaib believes that words are not just a mere figment of imagination. It takes wisdom to be good at them. Following this reason, he is pursuing his career as Public Relations and Content Specialist at Zameen.com.
