Fertiliser firms can’t be allowed to ‘exploit’ farmers
The agriculture sector contributes 22.7% to Pakistan’s GDP – the overall size of the national economy – where fertiliser is a vital input with average consumption of 207 kg per hectare. photo: file
Federal for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer on Wednesday said that fertiliser companies could not be allowed to exploit farmers for making illegal profits
The minister was chairing a meeting of the Fertiliser Review Committee.
He observed that the fertiliser companies were increasing the prices of urea without taking into consideration the plight of the farmers.
Tanveer ordered that fertiliser companies should roll back the recently hiked prices of urea.
He added that the government was giving another chance to the companies to reduce the prices.
The minister warned that if the companies did not reduce the urea prices by themselves, the government would set the rates.
He stressed the need for taking measures to ensure a uniform price of the urea across the country for the benefit of the farmers.
Read Minister condemns fertiliser price hike
Tanveer ordered that all the fertiliser firms and dealers to adhere to the same urea price.
He said the government had decided to have a third party audit conducted to determine the companies’ cost of production and profit margin.
The minister said the government was committed to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas to the fertiliser sector.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of Fauji Fertiliser Company Limited, Engro, Fatima Fertiliser Company and the farmers’ body. Kisan Ittehad.
Also present at the huddle were the federal secretary of industries and production and the agriculture secretaries of the four provinces.