KARACHI: President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need for setting up joint ventures to attract foreign investment in all sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture.

Addressing the 15th Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan’s (REAP) recognition ceremony, Mr Alvi called for adopting a value-addition approach and focusing research to increase agriculture production and agro-oriented export to boost the national economy.

He also stressed the 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.

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori also attended the ceremony.

Dr Alvi said waste discharge in the sea has badly affected fish production and stressed the need to make the seawater waste-free to increase fish exports.

He said that Pakistan had tremendous potential, which could be tapped by taking responsibility. He congratulated REAP for its journey from the exports of $300 million to $3bn.

Mr president advised REAP members to focus on value-added rice items. “Briyani Festival was a good idea and it was a value addition,” he added.

Mr Alvi said that the rice research institutions should be revived to further grab the international market.

He said that the government and REAP should jointly establish market-oriented institutions.

The president said that women must be employed in companies to empower them and play their role in the economy.

He said we had to impart education to our children to cope with the challenges being faced by the country.

Mr Tessori said that rice was the second-best export of the country. He deplored that it had not been recognised as an industry so far.

Chairman Chela Ram Kewlani said that REAP was the backbone of the country’s economy, adding that Pakistani rice had become a brand at the international level.

Mr Kewlani said that the country produced nine million tonnes of rice and the commodity was being exported to Europe, the Middle East, Russia and the rest of the world.``

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2023