Pakistan, Sept. 27 -- Punjab Agriculture Secretary Shakeel Ahmad Mian has said that Basmati rice is an identity of Punjab and coordinated measures are essential to improve its production, quality and exports.

He said this while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Rice Management Committee at Civil Secretariat on Saturday. The meeting reviewed the current status of the paddy crop in Punjab, arrangements for harvesting, wheat cultivation following paddy harvesting, and various other measures aimed at increasing rice exports.

Shakeel Mian said that paddy has been cultivated over an area of 6.7 million acres in Punjab during the current season. He directed the relevant officers to provide farmers with technical guidance about paddy h...