A news item appeared on 11.4.2004 that 500,000 tons of rice was being imported from India on a back-to-back letter of credit for re-export to global destinations. I have myself not seen this news item but a reader commented that the statement issued on behalf of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan gives wrong signal that stocks had depleted and we cannot supply in builk to our foreign buyers. According to comments foreign buyers have started looking to India to cover their future requirements directly. The reader questions is this a real situation or it is just some hidden hands attempting to promote Indian rice?
The readers suspecion is correct. I have lived long in Middle East. Arabs used to ask for “Pakistan Basmati”. Later Pakistani rice started being packed in packets marked “Indian Rice”. Not only once; last year if my memories are not misguiding me authorities in UAE raided a warehouse where Pakistani rice was being packed as “Indian produce”. “Indian” rice has by now also become popular. But this started under a technique first putting Pakistani rice into “Indian” packets to get introduced n the market.
While ALLAH The Great has blessed we the Pakistanis with all HIS BLESSINGS, in some aspects we are really of bad luck namely our politicians, businessmen etc doing damage for personal gains.
