Pakistan's Rice Exports Plunge 35% Despite Subsidies, Policy Backfires

• Pakistan's rice exports contracted sharply by 35.38% in February, despite government financial incentives.
• The subsidy scheme, including a PKR 15 billion allocation and rebates, failed to boost competitiveness.
• Basmati rice exports dropped 19.21% in value, while coarse rice earnings fell 42.50%.
• Industry experts blame soaring domestic prices, stockpiling, and focus on commodity exports over branding.
• Sustainable growth requires improved farm productivity, reduced input costs, and better infrastructure.