ISLAMABAD: Russia has lifted ban on import of rice from Pakistan.
According to media reports, Russia allowed to import rice from 4 Pakistani enterprises from Friday on the basis of guidelines.
This decision has been taken due to the implementation of steps proposed by department of plant protection of Quarantine division of ministry of food security.
Nasir Hamid, Commerce minister of Pakistani embassy in Russia took up this issue with the host country and pursued this case in collaboration with Russian authorities.
As per statement issued by food security, deputy director technical of quarantine of DPP Sohail Shahzad were engaged in talks since the last two years on the matter of lifting of ban on Pakistani rice imports.
The department had provided all technical information to Russia related to monitoring and prevention of the pests in companies dealing with rice and the areas producing rice, guarantee of Pakistan Plant quarantine system and others.
Initially NPPO of Russia has given approval to import rice from 4 rice Pakistani companies. Two among them are from Karachi, one each from Lahore and Chiniot.