ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: In continued efforts to meet requirements of fertilisers for Rabi season, the Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar presided over the weekly fertiliser review meeting on Friday.
The meeting was attended by the Advisor of Prime Minister on Commerce and Trade Abdul Razzak Dawood, the fertiliser industry, provincial departments, and senior officials of the petroleum division.
The meeting reviewed the supply-chain situation and production trajectory of fertilisers plants.
The industry informed that output of plants have been increased. It is evident that upto 20,000 metric ton production of urea on daily basis has been reported on an average.
The provincial departments briefed the meeting about punitive measures undertaken against hoarders and profiteers, which has resulted in significant price reduction in urea bag close to notified price of 1768/bag.
After extensive deliberations, the minister asked the industry to increase the urea supplies by 30% ie about 3000-5000 metric ton countrywide to ease down the market.
The minister said that plants of Fatima Fertilizer based in Sindh and Agri Tech units would be operated in full capacity till January to February 2022.
Khusro Bakhtyar directed the petroleum division to assure the gas supplies to urea plants as per revised gas supply priority orders.
Moreover, the minister commended the efforts of industry to ensure adequate urea supplies across the Country. He noted that the pro-agricultural policies of the incumbent government had not only scaled up domestic urea production but also resulted in lower urea prices as compared to the global prices; and this would reflect in increased crop production and farmer’s income.
Furthermore, it was reiterated that government & industry will continue to maintain constant vigilance over the situation to avoid any market disturbance.
The meeting concluded with guidelines for industry to devise the modalities for the smooth supply chain of urea in order to address any supply anomalies as well as expedite the media campaigns for awareness of farmers to not engage in panic buying and register complaints of overcharging and hoarding in their locality.
