ISLAMABAD: After completing required international food safety and security standards, China has allowed seven more Pakistani rice units to export rice.

The initiative would help further increase the exports of rice, specially would enable Pakistani rice exporters to penetrate in Chinese markets.

In this regard, authorities of both sides including Department of Plant Protection and relevant Chinese authorities organized several meetings and video conferences to materialize the existing scope of local rice exports to China, said an official in the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Talking to APP here on Wednesday, he said that prior to approval of new companies, as may as 46 companies were exporting rice to China, adding that after the approval of seven new companies, the number of total companies would reach to 53.

In order to enhance local rice exports for Chinese markets, he said that Department of Plant Protection was continuously negotiating with concern Chinese authorities and conducting survey and video inspections of different rice exporting units.

He further informed that after meeting all required standards and maintaining quality protocols, 7 local companies were allowed.

He said that Russia had also lifted ban on the import of rice from Pakistan that would help in significant increase of local rice exports to Russian markets as well as penetrating in other high end markets.—APP