Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has pledged support from the Senate for Pakistan’s rice sector as the country’s rice exports cross the $4 billion mark and industry stakeholders target $5 billion in annual exports.
Addressing the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Export Trophy Awards ceremony in Karachi as Chief Guest, Gilani congratulated award recipients and praised farmers and exporters for their contribution to taking Pakistani rice to international markets.
Pakistan’s Rice Exports Cross $4 Billion
Gilani highlighted the sector’s achievement of crossing the $4 billion rice export milestone, while noting that national rice production has reached nearly 10 million tonnes.
He said Pakistan’s future agricultural growth should focus not only on increasing production volumes but also on improving quality and generating greater value from agricultural products.
The chairman emphasized that higher production should serve as the foundation for building a more competitive and value-oriented agricultural export sector.
Focus On Quality And High-Value Production
Gilani called for a strategic shift towards quality-driven and high-value agricultural production.
He said Pakistani rice needs to secure greater value in international markets through advanced agricultural research, modern milling technologies and consistent quality controls.
He also highlighted the importance of national branding and the development of value-added rice products to strengthen Pakistan’s position in global markets.
Farmers And Exporters Recognized
The Senate chairman congratulated recipients of the REAP Export Trophy Awards and acknowledged the contribution of farmers and exporters to the country’s rice industry.
He also emphasized the broader economic importance of the farming community, noting that strengthening farmers would contribute to strengthening the national economy and local communities.
Gilani referred to his own background as an agriculturist from South Punjab while highlighting his connection with the farming sector.
REAP Targets $5 Billion Rice Exports
Gilani commended REAP for bringing stakeholders in the rice industry together and establishing a trajectory towards a $5 billion export target.
The target comes after the sector achieved more than $4 billion in rice exports, creating a higher benchmark for exporters and other stakeholders across the agricultural value chain.
Reaching the next milestone would require continued attention to productivity, quality, processing, branding and access to international markets.
Senate Pledges Support For Agricultural Enterprise
Gilani assured the business community that the Senate, as the House of Federation, would support policy initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s agrarian economy.
He said the Senate would stand behind efforts to expand the country’s agricultural enterprise and improve its position in global markets.
The chairman also called for a collective national effort to convert the potential of Pakistan’s agricultural sector into sustainable economic progress.
Agriculture Sector Seeks Greater Global Competitiveness
The focus on higher-value production reflects the growing importance of improving Pakistan’s agricultural export competitiveness.
For the rice industry, investment in research, modern processing, quality standards, branding and value-added products could help exporters target higher-value international markets.
The event concluded with Gilani expressing his wishes for the prosperity of Pakistan’s farming community and reaffirming his support for the sector’s development.
