Better late than never — Pakistan’s rightful claim to Basmati rice recognised

WEB DESK: Pakistan has emerged victorious in the long standing tussle over the monopoly claim of Basmati rice which was ‘orchestrated’ by India for years. With Australia and New Zealand recognising Basmati rice as a Pakistani product, European Union is soon to follow suit, reported Aaj News on Friday. The rice exports have climbed to a whopping USD four billion in the rice market of USD 27 billion, reflecting Pakistan as a key player.

International trade experts and historians have concluded that Basmati actually originates from the Hafizabad district, contrary to the earlier understanding that it solely comes from India.

Pakistan’s Basmati rice product is known for its ‘superior aroma and quality’ alongside competitive pricing. Despite India trying to gain control of the market, Pakistan’s growing exports have led the neighbouring nation to face setbacks.

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Exporters like including Chaudhry Tanveer have argued that India does not produce authentic Basmati, rather a route through Dubai was being taken to market Pakistani Basmati rice as an Indian product, before exporting it once more.

As per the data submitted to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India did not export Basmati before 1965, whereas Pakistan was already supplying it to Europe and Gulf countries in the 1960s.

Trade expert Shams-ul-Islam noted that while the Pakistan-India dispute over Basmati ownership in the EU remains unresolved, intellectual property laws favour the original producer. He pointed out that that India’s objections lack merit and that Pakistan should rightfully hold the geographical indication (GI) certification.

As geographical protection in trade becomes increasingly important, securing exclusive rights to Basmati rice remains a key economic and strategic objective for Pakistan.