Chandigarh: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Friday called on the Prime Minister to step in urgently as escalating tensions involving Iran have disrupted international trade, leaving Basmati rice consignments worth over ₹2,000 crore stranded overseas.
According to Sandhwan, exporters from Punjab are facing severe financial strain as shipments remain stuck and payments from foreign buyers have been delayed indefinitely. He warned that the situation is already rippling through the domestic market, with mandi prices for Basmati falling sharply and adding pressure on farmers.
In his appeal, the Speaker said the crisis has created uncertainty across the supply chain, affecting growers, rice mill owners and exporters alike. “Without swift action, the damage to Punjab’s agrarian economy could deepen,” he said, stressing that the state’s farmers are particularly vulnerable at a time when input costs remain high.
Sandhwan urged the Centre to engage diplomatically and explore alternative trade and payment mechanisms to ensure that exporters can recover dues and resume normal operations. He also sought immediate relief measures to stabilise prices and prevent further losses to cultivators.
Highlighting the importance of Basmati exports to Punjab’s economy, he said prolonged delays could have long-term consequences if confidence among international buyers weakens. He appealed for coordinated action from relevant ministries to safeguard livelihoods linked to the rice trade and to prevent the crisis from escalating further.
