Pakistan has been recognized as the lowest-risk country regarding food safety standards for rice exports in the fiscal year 2023-24. Pakistani rice now accounts for 25% of the European rice market, significantly surpassing India’s 16%.
This information came to light during a meeting between Malik Faisal Jahangir, the newly elected Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal. The discussion centered on maintaining Pakistan’s rice exports amid falling international prices and India’s recent decision to lift its rice export ban in October.
Mr. Jahangir noted that Pakistan received only 74 rapid alerts concerning pesticides and other food safety issues last year, compared to 264 alerts for India. “This demonstrates Pakistan’s rice sector is more compliant,” he remarked. He also highlighted that countries like India, Turkiye, Spain, Italy, and the UK face higher food safety alerts.
Despite this success, Mr. Jahangir raised concerns about a negative campaign that could damage Pakistan’s export reputation. He stressed the importance of maintaining a positive image in global markets.
The Commerce Ministry has removed the minimum export price to boost Pakistan’s competitiveness against India. However, concerns remain that low prices may prevent Pakistan from achieving last year’s export value. Minister Kamal called for enhanced collaboration between the government and exporters to ensure compliance with European standards and boost export growth.
He emphasized that rice exports are vital to Pakistan’s economy, aiming to increase the export value from $4 billion to $6-7 billion in the coming years.
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