Minister for Industries and Production, Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi has expressed annoyance at National Fertilizer Marketing Company''s (NFML) management for not carrying out company''s audit for the last two years. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are investigating the urea scam reportedly tailored by the officials of NFML in connivance with some transporters.
Jatoi, who has activated himself after one-and-a-half years after taking the charge of the MoI&P, is seeking details from all the attached departments. On Thursday, the Minister chaired a meeting on NFML focusing on a transportation, marketing and distribution strategy for up-coming Rabi season and directed Secretary MoI&P Raja Hasan Abbas to explore the options for transportation of urea from Karachi and Gwadar ports either through Pakistan Railways or NLC.
He maintained the matter of Gwadar-based transporters should also be kept in mind while exploring these options. "Transportation through Pakistan Railways or NLC omits the potential risk of shortage/theft of NFML urea stocks," the Minister added. He further directed that a comparative analysis be undertaken regarding transportation costs of other urea producers like FFC and Engro and also viz-a-viz Pakistan Railways and recommendations should be submitted to the Minister''s Office by October 30, 2014.
According to an official statement, the Minister also directed NFML to immediately suggest an alternative arrangement for a temporary storage of urea at Karachi godowns. In past, private tally/labour and security contractors were found involved in embezzlements which resulted in huge shortages. NFML should not involve itself in transitional storage warehousing, the statement added. The Minister questioned the steps taken by the NFML management to stop dumping of urea and directed that a mechanism be immediately set in place, in co-ordination with other agencies, to control the price of imported urea and stop black- marketing.
"Why has the company audit not been carried out in NFML for the last 2 years as per the requirement of SECP? Audited accounts of NFML should be submitted to the Ministry by the end of November and a report in this regard be furnished to the Minister''s Office accordingly," the Minister continued.
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