Shah Rice Mills

Shah Rice Mills is right on Zira Road, along National Highway-15. Being on the highway means we get a lot of traffic passing by. It’s convenient for getting the finished rice out to the bigger markets. The mill itself is a large structure. We have several different sections for cleaning and de-husking. It’s a loud environment, so we mostly communicate with hand signals when the machines are running. You learn how to read what the other person needs. We don't have a polished showroom. If you want to see the rice, you just look in the bags. We are careful about how we handle the grain because it matters. Sometimes the conveyor belt slips and we have to stop everything to adjust it. It can be frustrating but that is part of the routine. We have a small room where we keep some basic spare parts and tools. The lighting inside isn't the best, but we know where everything is even in the dark. We work through the seasons, sometimes through the night if the harvest is particularly heavy. It’s a lot of physical labor, throwing bags and moving levers. We don't use much fancy technology. Just the same reliable machines we've had for years. Most of us live nearby, so it’s a short commute. We just focus on the day-to-day tasks and try to do them right. It’s a simple business.