SLAMABAD: In a daring and unprecedented move, Islamabad has embarked on a legal battle in India against New Delhi for unlawfully declaring Super Basmati rice, a purely Pakistani brand, its own produce, a senior government official told The News.Islamabad has served a formal notice on New Delhi for inflicting huge damage on Pakistan as India has illegally registered Super Basmati, undisputed Pakistan’s brand, under its Export Act. “India’s this act is feared to deprive Pakistan of exporting Super Basmati rice to the world’s largest market of European Union, thus subjecting Pakistan to huge financial loss.
Under Section 80 of Indian Penal Code, serving a notice to the Indian government is mandatory prior to moving a court of law in India, which is why Islamabad served formal notice to Indian ministry of commerce on July 19, 2007.
On behalf of Pakistan, TCP, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will be petitioners and Fazal Abbas Mekan Trade Minister High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi has been authorized on their behalf to proceed with case, which would be filed in a court of law in India. Secretary Commerce Asif Shah confirmed this to The News. However, he said the both countries have decided to get Basmati rice registered jointly as many of the countries have come out to get Basmati registered to have the right to export it.
Asif Shah explained that Super Basmati is a kind of rice that is purely PakistanÂ’s brand and a commodity with regard to its geographical Indication (GI), which is why Pakistan has decided to wage a legal battle against India.