NA panel concerned at urea shortage

Directs production ministry to ensure its availability at affordable rates, stop its smuggling

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Thursday expressed concern over the shortage of urea in the country “despite the fact that it’s not being used due to heavy floods”.

The committee directed the ministry concerned to ensure the availability of urea at affordable prices and also take concrete measures to stop its smuggling across the borders “as its prices are higher in the international markets”.

The committee met under the chairmanship of MNA Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah to discuss various issues pertaining to ministry and its attached departments, said a press release issued here.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Ali Gohar Khan, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Riazul Haq, Mahar Irshad Ahmed Khan, Usama Qadri, Nawab Sher and senior officers of the ministries and departments concerned.

The industries and production minister and secretary briefly apprised the committee about the efforts made by them to provide subsidy to farmers on harvesting equipment and to control the prices of vehicles in Pakistan.

They informed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would announce a special subsidy package for farmers soon which would help the growers increase per acre yield and would help better the economy of the country as well.

The committee also asked the ministry concerned to take measures for ensuring timely availability of vehicles at controlled prices.

The committee directed that the ministry to take stringent measures to stop the monopoly of manufacturing companies and middlemen to eliminate the extra payment of ‘own’ in order to ensure the timely availability of vehicles at controlled rates.

The committee also expressed concern over the price hike of vehicles in Pakistan despite the fact that the dollar had decreased incredibly during the recent past.

The committee expressed grave concern over the theft of valuable items worth Rs10 billion from the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), directing the ministry to pursue the case effectively and develop proper liaison with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for early completion of the inquiry report so that culprits could be penalised accordingly.

The committee also decided to discuss the privatisation of PSM with the Privatisation Commission in its next meeting.

The committee warmly welcomed the newly elected chairman, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, and assured to extend full cooperation for smooth functioning of the committee.