KARACHI: President Dr. Arif Alvi has stressed for joint ventures to increase investment in agriculture and other sectors in the country.
Addressing Exports Trophy ceremony of the Rice Export Association of Pakistan (REAP) in Karachi on Saturday, President Dr. Arif Alvi called for adopting value addition approach and focusing research to increase agriculture production and agro-oriented export to boost national economy.
The President called for participation of all segments of society including trade and business community in the political and decision-making process to put the country on the right track.
President Dr. Arif Alvi said waste discharge in sea has badly affected fish production and export of the fish. He stressed to make the sea water waste free to increase fish export to support the national economy.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sindh Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori underlined need to increase exports to improve the national economy.
Kamran Khan Tessori expressed happiness that rice export sector is the second biggest export trade institution that is playing an important role in the national economy. He assured to extend his cooperation in improving rice export trade.
REAP Chairman Chela Ram Kewlani addressing the ceremony said that REAP was the backbone of the country's economy.
He said that the Rice of Pakistan had become a brand at international level. Kewlani said that the country had 9 million ton crop of rice. The rice were being exported to Europe, Middle East, Russia and rest of the world.
He said that Pakistani rice were famouse around the world due to its quality.
The REAP chairman said that the rice exports of the country was $300 million in the past and then it had reached $3 billion.
Kewlani also drew attention towards Minimum Export Price (MEP) of rice and said that due to MEP they would not be able to export rice. He said that two crops of rice were being grown the worldover and Pakistan was still growing only a single crop. He demanded the establishing of a Rice Reasearch institution for more and better opportunities and exports growth.
Later, the President Dr. Arif Alvi and Sindh Governor Mohammed Kamran Khan Tessori distributed recognition shields and trophies among the best exporters of rice.
Meanwhile President Dr. Arif Alvi has underscored the critical role of political stability in ensuring the economic wellbeing of the country.
Speaking at a ceremony of the Korangi Association of Trade & Industry in Karachi, he highlighted the substantial contributions of the business community of the metropolis to charitable endeavors.
President Alvi called upon the business community to take the lead in tackling pressing issues. During the event, President Alvi distributed shields among the members of KATI in recognition of their contributions.