Arrangements finalised for handling 0.17 million tons imported urea

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) in a meeting finalised the modus operandi of lifting, storing, transportation and distribution of 1,70,000 ton imported urea during December and January when it would be urgently needed for the wheat crop.
Sources in Minfal told Business Recorder here on Friday that the meeting, presided over by Secretary Ismail Qureshi, was attended by officials of Trading Corporation of Pakistan, Railways, four major fertiliser producing and marketing companies, (Fauji Fertiliser, Engro, Daud Hercules and National Fertilisers), and other stakeholders.
The meeting also finalised the schedule of payment by fertiliser distributors, deducting transportation cost @ Rs 60 per 50 kg bag and Rs 28 as distribution cost.
Sources said that urea import would cost the government approximately Rs 1100 per 50 kg bag whereas it would be provided to the farmers at the rate of Rs 445-450 per bag which would be a great relief to the farming community.
They said that there is surplus urea in the country for wheat sowing in October and November. However there would be a greater demand of urea in December and January when first water would be given to the crop.
Giving details of the import orders and schedule of shipments on the two tenders opened on September 29 and October 6, 2004, they said that the first vessel of ICEC Ltd Gibraltar carrying 35,000 tons urea would reach Karachi between November 3 and 19. The second vessel of this supplier, carrying 30,000 tons may arrive between November 6 and 18.
The vessels of Multicommerce LLC, USA with 15,000 and 35,000 tons urea will reach Karachi between 3-5 November and 25-28 November 2004.
The vessel of third exporter Keytrade AGM Baech, Switzerland carrying 30,000 tons is expected to arrive between November 8-15 and the vessel of Conagra Resoujrces Europe Limited UK carrying 25,000 metric tons will reach Karachi Port between 18 and 20 November.
Sources however apprehended that because of transportation of large quantities of imported wheat upcountry, there would be shortage of trucks for carriage of fertiliser. To solve this problem a meeting is scheduled at Pakistan Railways Headquarters in Lahore next Thursday wherein PR will be requested to provide maximum number of freight carriages on emergency basis so that both wheat and fertiliser consignments reach their destinations in time.