Lifting its ban, Russia has allowed the import of rice from four Pakistani enterprises from Friday.

The decision was based on the implementation of phytosanitary measures proposed by the Ministry of Food Security Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of the Quarantine Division, according to a Dawn report.

Russia had carried out an inspection in February last year.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Food Security said that Deputy Director Technical Quarantine of DPP Sohail Shahzad had been negotiating with Russia for the past year for the lifting of the ban on rice import from Pakistan.

The department also provided Russia all required technical information, assurances on the Pakistan Plant Quarantine system, pest surveillance, and control program in rice-growing areas and rice establishments.

Initially, four rice establishments — ­two from Karachi, one from Lahore and one from Chiniot — have been approved by NPPO Russia for import of rice from Pakistan.

The permission to other rice units shall be subject to virtual verification by the plant quarantine division of DPP.

(SAM)