LAHORE: The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) is organizing the first-ever domestic ‘Biryani Festival’ under its aegis at President House, Islamabad, on December 4, 2023, to showcase different flavours and dishes of Biryani from different regions of the country to diplomats and other important people.

“We will be presenting 12 dishes of rice to show Pakistani culinary culture to diplomats, which include Daal Chawal and different types of Pulao and Biryani. Special chefs are flying from Karachi to the federal capital to promote our rich culinary heritage and entertain the taste buds of diplomats of different countries, officials from different ministries and other important people,” said Senior Vice Chairman REAP Haseeb Ahmad Khan while talking to Business Recorder.

He said that the event promises to be an exquisite blend of gastronomic delights and a vibrant display of our shared traditions. It is one of the many efforts being rendered by the exporters of especially ‘Basmati’ rice to enhance our exports.

Haseeb said at the same time a ‘REAP rice book’ would also be launched at the same venue having articles from the agricultural scientists of Kala Shah Kaku Rice Research Institute, Eurofin and others. It would also include articles by our members on sustainable rice-growing practices etc.

Khan said that they were hopeful to cross the US$3 billion export mark this year as their members had exported almost 1.5 million tons of IRRI rice during the first four and half months of the current financial year.

He said that as Basmati season had just started it would further boost our exports and they would be crossing the US$3 billion mark.

Regarding the opening of new markets, he said they were working on the Mexico market and a delegation of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) would start inspection of 38 rice mills in a day or two to confirm their compliance with the standards set by Mexico.

He said 26 mills from Karachi region and 12 mills from Punjab region would be inspected by the DPP and a video and other material would be despatched to Mexico confirming compliance with their requirements.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Published Date: November 28, 2023