The economic monitoring committee (EMC), which met here, with Adviser on Finance Shaukat Tarin in the chair, directed the Ministry of Industries to consider the proposal of importing raw sugar to meet any likely shortfall.
The Adviser directed the Ministry to firm up its import proposals in December 2008 after revisiting existing stock position and additional requirements to be met through local mobilisation and imports, on need basis only.
He directed the subcommittee, set up to review gas supply strategy during winter season, to step up its homework and submit practical proposals incorporating stakeholders' concerns for GOP approval. He also directed the Ministry of Petroleum to rationalise gas demand and supply system on national network for reaching an out of box solution in a way that national industry does not suffer in terms of productivity.
The Ministry of Petroleum was further advised to bring forward a comprehensive gas load distribution proposal, taking into account all stakeholders needs. Minfal briefed the EMC on existing wheat stock position. To-date, it has imported 1,750,000 tones wheat, that is being transported upcountry to facilitate convenient availability in the open market. Minfal further informed EMC that currently it has a balance stock of 2.978 million tons wheat.
The Adviser directed Minfal to recast its existing policy implementation framework on supplementing its existing stock position in a manner that people face no inconvenience. He further advised Minfal to devise a set of wheat distribution proposals in a way that all the four provinces face no shortage. Necessary GOP approval may be obtained after firming up all possible options on the subject that included Federal Government's projected role in Minfal to act as equaliser in judicious distribution of wheat stocks to facilitate common man.
Minfal informed EMC that it has 0.95 million tons DAP in stocks that could adequately address nation-wide farmers' demands. It further briefed EMC about domestic demand of 730,000 tons urea to meet local consumption. It includes a combination of domestic production and projected import. The Adviser directed Minfal to put up its urea and DAP specific recommendations on all policy issues within two weeks for EMC/ECC decisions.
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