17 percent ST, loadshedding cause hike in fertilisers' prices, National Assembly told

National Assembly was informed on Monday that fertilizers prices soared due to imposition of 17 per cent sales tax on fertilizers and gas load shedding. Responding to a call attention notice during NA session regarding increase in the prices of fertilizers by Rs 570 per bag, Parliamentary Secretary for Industries and Production, Peer Haider Ali Shah said that gas load shedding and the imposition of new sales tax forced the government to increase the price of fertilisers.
However, he said that the government had planned to import 250,000 tones fertilisers to meet the increasing demand as well as to facilitate the farmers, adding that the availability of 250,000 tones fertilisers in the market would help reduce prices. He said that the government was taking serious measures to set up world's largest fertilisers factory in the country to meet the increasing demand of fertilisers as well as to reduce its prices.
Earlier, speaking on a call attention notice PML-N MNAs including Barjees Tahir, Mohammad Baligh-ur-Rehman, Ibrar Ahmad and others expressed concerns over the rise in prices of fertilisers by Rs 570 per bag and demanded of the government immediate relief to the farmers.
Meanwhile, the government introduced Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill 2011 to amend Islamabad High Court Act 2010, while National Commission for Human Rights Bill 2010 was referred to National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights for further consideration.
Newly elected member of the PML-Q Owais Ahmed Khan Leghari sown in as member of the National Assembly, who won the by-elections from NA-172. The National Assembly also welcomed the national Cricket Team in House, which witnessed proceedings of the House for sometime. The Deputy Speaker welcomed the national team on behalf of the entire House and appreciated the performance of the team in the recently concluded World Cup.