Federal Minister for Industries, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Khan Watto, has said that the government is importing 0.7 million tonnes of Urea to meet the fertiliser shortage in the country. He was talking to newsmen after presiding over a meeting held in connection of availability of fertiliser in the country here on Monday.
He said the fertiliser would be imported through Gwadar port for onward supply to different parts of the country. The black-marketing of fertiliser issue would not be resolved till the sufficient production/supply to meet the domestic demand, he added.
He said the fertiliser's total production is about 2.5 million tons against the total demand of 3 million tons, which is the main reason of the price hike and black-marketing. The country is facing a shortfall of 0.55 million of fertiliser that was why the government has planned to import 0.7 million tonnes of Urea so that timely availability could be ensured.
However, to ensure transparency in supply to the farmers at fixed price, the government has appointed 600 dealers who would be restricted to store fertiliser in registered godowns. The provincial chief ministers are also being consulted in this regard, he added. Steps have been taken to supply 320,000 tonnes Urea to farmers during the current month while 300,000 tonnes is also being imported in next month, the minister said.
He said that the government has attributed the year 2009 for Industrial Revival and allocated Rs 40 billion which would be spent on SMEs, mainly the projects developed in consultation with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda). About the industrial policy, the minister said it is being finalised and would be announced within next three months.