Food minister stresses cooperation with Pakistan on grain storage

Food Minister Afroza Khanam on Monday said Bangladesh and Pakistan can benefit through increased mutual cooperation, exchange of knowledge and experience, and expansion of bilateral trade.

In particular, Pakistan's experience in improving long-term food grain storage systems could be important for Bangladesh, she said.

She made the remarks when Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on her at her office at the Secretariat on Monday morning, said a press release.

During the meeting, various issues of mutual interest to the two countries and different aspects of bilateral cooperation, including food grain imports, long-term food storage, trade expansion, education and connectivity, were discussed.

Mentioning that 50,000 tonnes of rice were imported from Pakistan in the last fiscal year, the food minister said the rice reached Bangladesh on schedule and its quality was also satisfactory.

Praising Pakistan's basmati rice, the minister said Bangladesh currently has adequate food grain stocks. However, maintaining the quality of food grains during long-term storage remains a major challenge.

In this regard, exchange of Pakistan's experience and technical knowledge would help further improve Bangladesh's food storage system, she said, expressing hope for Pakistan's cooperation to this end.

Noting that the introduction of direct flights between the two countries has made travel and mutual communication easier for people, the Pakistani high commissioner said people living in Karachi, in particular, are benefiting from this connectivity.

He emphasised further expanding commercial and cultural ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Highlighting the potential for expanding the market for Bangladeshi products, the envoy said Bangladeshi ceramic products, betel leaf and pineapples have demand and popularity in Pakistan.

He also said there are opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education at various universities in Pakistan, including fully funded scholarships.

He urged Bangladeshi students to take advantage of the opportunity to receive international standard education in subjects including cyber security and information technology.

The food minister said there is ample scope to expand trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan, opining that Communication between relevant institutions and businesspeople of the two countries could be increased to expand the market for agricultural products.

She expressed optimism that these prospects could be turned into real trade through easier bilateral trade and effective cooperation.

The food minister further said friendly relations between the two countries could be strengthened further by increasing cooperation in education, technology, food security, trade and people-to-people contact.

On the basis of mutual respect, cooperation and exchange of experience, Bangladesh and Pakistan can play a positive role in each other's development journey, she said.

Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Wasif, Trade and Investment Attache Waqas Yasin, Food Secretary Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Director General of the Directorate General of Food Md Jasim Uddin Khan and other officials concerned were present at the meeting.