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Watch
Iraq may allow private
sector to handle shipment: Wheat exports
KARACHI, Jan 9: Iraq has agreed to give due consideration to
Pakistan's request to allow private sector for handling wheat
exports, being purchased under phase 11 of the UN programme
'oil-for-food', official sources said.
Under the programme Iraq has already invited bids for the
purchase of 35,000 tons wheat through international tender and
January 5, 2002 was the last date for filing of bids.
Although the Trading Corporation of Pakistan has already
submitted its bid for the export of 35,000 tons wheat to Iraq,
after deregulating wheat exports the government is keen to
involve private sector in the exports.
During recent visit to Iraq, TCP chairman Syed Masood Alam
Rizvi took the matter with the Grain Board of Iraq (GBI) for
allowing the private sector to participate in wheat exports.
Sources said Iraq had indicated to allow private sector to
handle wheat if the tender, submitted by the TCP for export of
35,000 tons, is awarded to Pakistan. However, the Iraqi
government has laid down a condition that the entire shipment
activity of the private sector should be under the supervision
of the government agency.
Similarly, under the new wheat specifications GBI has allowed
0.2 per cent of inorganic and 0.8 per cent of organic matters.
But the Iraqi board has shown extra leniency by allowing
Pakistan to give its own wheat specification.
However, Iraqi authorities pointed out that specifications
coming from Pakistan will be considered and the answer could
be negative or positive. But the GBI is not ready to
compromise on the gluten content of wheat, which stands at 28
per cent, sources said.
It has been clearly conveyed to the Iraqi authorities that
Pakistan is obliged that Iraq had accepted "our wheat and
because of this we have managed to make food-hold in the world
market".
Looking at good prospects for Pakistani wheat in Iraq, the
government is planning to set up silos at Port Qasim and
establish two laboratories to ensure quality.
The Grain Board of Iraq has fixed April 8, 2002 as last
shipment date for replacing the rejected two ship loads of
62,000 tons of wheat and the TCP is presently working with the
Passco and the Punjab government for arranging the supplies,
official sources said.
January 10, 2002 |
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