ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: As Pakistan failed to register super basmati locally, Indian expatriates based in Dubai and London are selling Pakistani origin basmati in consumer packs branded as of Indian origin at much higher prices, Dawn has learnt.

Even Indian Pussa — a non-basmati variety in the European Union (EU) market, is fetching higher price than Pakistani basmati. This all happened due to Pakistan’s failure to timely contest Indian registration of super basmati for export nine months ago.

Indian Pussa (duplicate basmati)is sold at a price ranging between $800 to $850 per ton, real basmati at $950 to $1,000 per ton in the EU market. The Pakistani original super basmati was selling in the range of $500 to $550 per ton with a risk of cancellation of containers if it did not meat the EU standards — DNA testing requirement.

A leading exporter of basmati rice requested not to be named told Dawn that the Pakistani basmati was not only facing the disadvantage of low price but it was also marketed in huge quantity in the consumer packs with an Indian origin label.

He said since India was short of basmati rice, including Pussa variety, its exporters approached the Indian expatriates based in London and Dubai to meet the demand of their buyers. “Our price is rising locally but what will happen, Dubai and London based millers would market Pakistani variety as of Indian origin because they have a strong lobby in EU, the exporter warned.

Europe had already bought from India huge quantity of duplicate basmati Pussa) approved by the EU, while Pakistani delegation went to Brussels in 2004-05 and got approved Pk-375, the variety which has ceased growing since a long time.

“We are still unable to register super basmati with EU, while Europeans are buying our brown basmati rice because of shortage in India but according to EU specs and not Pakistani standard specs,” he added.

The exporter said that the commerce ministry awakened late and decided to contest the Indian claim in one of the Indian court. “This action will not serve any purpose as we know Indian tactics not in politics but also in trade,” he asserted.

Pakistan has hired a lawyer in New Delhi to work out details for contesting the Indian registration of Pakistani super basmati for export in May 2006.

The exporter suggested some stern action against the Indian government to salvage further damage to the rice commodity. “This is the right time for action as India is in short supply of basmati and they are nervous to ship huge committed quantity of basmati to EU,” the exporter added.