ISLAMABAD
A high-level meeting on new Fertilizer Policy on Thursday thoroughly discussed the framework of Fertiliser Policy and also negotiated to adopt the future policy measure.
The meeting, presided over by Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, was briefed that the upcoming policy would be structured on three broad areas i.e. demand, supply and pricing of soil nutrients, said a press release issued here.
It was discussed that the issue of rationalization of gas sale agreements and supply-chain maintenance through local production or imports in conjunction with demand projections would be addressed in the new Fertiliser Policy.
During discussion, Minister Khusro Bakhtyar noted that unlike previous governments, the incumbent government utilized the optimal capacity of the urea plants to meet the demands in the outgoing Rabi season. He said the local industry witnessed record production of 6.
Minister Khusro Bakhtyar emphasized upon encouraging the application of nutrient balance into soil in Rabi and Kharif season to enhance the productivity of cultivated areas in the country.
For this, he advised to formulate a comprehensive policy framework with reference to infrastructure development and farmer support mechanism on a long-term basis.
Minister for Energy, Hammad Azhar laid stress on efficiency analysis of manufacturing plants vis-a-vis gas consumption of the running plants to maximize the output production of fertilisers.
The meeting concluded with formation of three sub-committees separately to work on supply, demand and pricing strategy of fertilisers within existing agronomic practices.
The sub-committees will comprise of officials of Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of Food Security and Research, Ministry of Energy – Petroleum Division and one representative from Ministry of Planning and Special Initiatives as well as technical experts of the field.
The sub-committees are directed to present collaborative policy drafts in the next meeting. Besides the senior officials of the ministries, Minister for Energy Mr. Hammad Azhar and Minister for Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam attended the meeting.
