KARACHI: Pakistani rice exporters said on Saturday they would send a letter to Qatar on Monday through the ministry of commerce and the Trade Development Authority to complain about an India-specific basmati rice import tender, which local traders have called a discriminatory move by the Qatari government.
Earlier this year, Qatar lifted a ban, imposed since 2011-12, on the import of rice from Pakistan, thus allowing Islamabad to export 4,000 metric tons or 100,000 bags of basmati rice to Doha. The decision came after a visit to the country by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. A tender was subsequently won by Pakistan’s Chappal traders, whose shipment is expected in Qatar by December 2019.
On Thursday, however, the Qatar government announced a new tender for import of 48,000 metric tons of basmati rice but allowed only Indian suppliers to participate.
“Definitely our association will send a letter to the Qatar government in which we will write to them that this variety [basmati rice] is available both in Pakistan and India; therefore origin specific tenders cannot be floated,” Muhammad Raza, senior vice chairman at the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) told Arab News on Saturday. “The letter will be sent through the ministry of commerce and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to the Qatari government on Monday.”
“As the previous tender was Pakistan-specific, perhaps they have gone for an Indian-specific tender this time and allocated more quantity to India,” Raza added. “Qatar’s procurement agency will be requested that in future the tender for this variety should not be kept country-origin specific, allowing both countries [India and Pakistan] to supply as per their capacity.”
Neither Pakistan’s minister for commerce, nor a representative of the Trade Development Authority, could be reached for comment.
Pakistan’s exporters say the country will lose rice exports worth $57.6 million due to the exclusion of Pakistan from Qatar’s latest tender.
“Pakistan’s name should have been in the tender issued by the Qatar government for supply of 48,000 MT rice along with India,” Rafique Suleman, convener of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told Arab News.
Qatar’s annual rice import market is about 200,000 metric tons, in which Pakistan’s share gradually declined from 125,000 to 20,000-25000 tons in 2011-12. Since this time, only private sector rice firms from Qatar have continued imports from Pakistan.
The 2011-12 ban was imposed on Pakistan by the CTC, the government of Qatar’s procurement arm, for what it called the supply of substandard commodities. Since the lifting of the ban, Pakistan is expecting to export rice worth $40-50 million, but Qatar has appointed a third party to ensure quality.
Pakistani exporters to move government against Qatar’s India-only rice tender
Pakistani exporters to move government against Qatar’s India-only rice tender
- On Thursday, Qatar government announced an India-specific tender for import of 48,000 metric tons of basmati rice
- Pakistani traders say both countries have basmati rice, country-specific tenders should not be floated
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
