Amid restrictions: Govt pressed to lift ban on fertiliser in South Waziristan

Traders say they will cooperate with authorities as far as security is concerned

WANA: Traders in Wana have urged the government to lift the ban on the supply of fertiliser in South Waziristan Agency (SWA). They shared these views during a news conference held at a hotel in Wana Bazaar on Sunday.

According to traders, registered dealers were allowed to supply fertiliser in the past. However, the government had imposed restrictions and banned the sale and supply of fertiliser in the region.

They added there were three registered dealers who had been granted supply permits – Jan Traders, Al-Muzammil Traders and Taj Market. According to the traders, the government should allow these dealers to supply fertiliser in the region.

Security dynamic

Traders also agreed to supply fertiliser as per the requirements of the government.

“For security reasons, we will keep complete record of traders and will share it with the relevant authorities if asked to do so,” one of the traders said.

Speaking on the occasion, trader Haji Gul Dottani said, “A few days back, SWA's political administration seized hundreds of bags containing fertiliser that were subsequently auctioned in Tank.”

He added, “The auction was unfair as the authorities should have returned them to the seller.”

Spiral of uncertainty

In 2009, the government first banned the supply of different types of chemical fertilisers to the tribal region governed through the draconian Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). Over the years, the ban has been periodically withdrawn and renewed. The decision was taken for security reasons as it was believed fertilisers were used to make improvised explosive devices. The ban has dealt a critical blow to farmers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st,  2016.