Hammad says gas supply to fertilizer plants ensured record production
ISLAMABAD
Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtiar has ruled out the shortage of urea in the country and advised the farmers against panic buying of the commodity, assuring additional supplies will be started from Monday next.
Speaking at a press conference along with Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar and the fertilizer companies’ owners here on Friday, he pointed out that at present about 350,000 bags of urea are being produced on a daily basis which will be enhanced to 440,000 bags from the tenth of this month.
He said two million bags of urea have been procured from China and if the need arises, more procurement will also be made.
Khusro said additional urea stocks of 4.4 million bags and 8.2 million bags will be available in the months of February and March respectively.
The minister for industries and production said the government is providing a subsidy of Rs. 400 billion to the farmers in urea. He said that the price of a urea bag in the international market is Rs. 11,000 per bag whilst in Pakistan it is Rs. 1800 per bag.
The minister for industries and production asked the farmers to refrain from panic buying and purchase the fertilizer as per their requirement.
He said the government is taking all possible measures to bring improvement in the manufacturing sector, adding the focus is being given to strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.
He said a huge amount has been allocated to enhance production in the industrial sector. In reply to a question, he said the government is striving to create job opportunities for youth.
He said sufficient amounts have been made available to provide loan facilities to the people through different banks to help promote small business in the country.
In his remarks, Hammad Azhar said uninterrupted gas is being supplied to the fertilizer plants. He said the year 2021 saw record production of urea due to the constant gas supply to the fertilizer plants.
He said, “We are providing gas to the fertilizer plants at reduced rates as a result of which urea prices are lower in Pakistan than the international market.”
Speaking on the occasion, representatives and owners of fertilizer companies lauded the government for providing uninterrupted gas supply especially in winter. They said dealership rights will be cancelled if any of the dealers found involved in hoarding of urea.
