ISLAMABAD/MOSCOW – Russia has lifted the ban on import of rice from Pakistan and now four Pakistani enterprises are allowed to export rice to Russia from Friday.
Four enterprises from the country are now able to export rice to the Russian Federation. The ban was lifted after efforts were made by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of National Food Security and the trade wing of Pakistan’s embassy in Moscow.
Russia had banned the import of rice from Pakistan in May 2019 after the Russian authorities found Khapra beetle in a rice consignment shipped from Pakistan.
Initially, Russian has allowed import of rice from four Pakistani enterprises, two from Karachi and one each from Lahore and Chiniot.
The trade attache in Moscow has also persuaded the Federal Service for Veterinary & Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS), a federal executive body in Russia, to conduct a virtual inspection of other rice exporting enterprises in Pakistan, so that they may also be allowed to export rice to Russia.
The farmers and industry have appreciated the efforts of the Federal Minister Fakhar Imam, Secretary Ghufran Memon, Director-General Allah Ditta and Trade Minister in Pakistan Embassy in Russia Nasir Hameed for taking up and pursuing this matter with the Russian authorities.
