President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday directed to expedite off-loading and transportation of the imported urea to other parts of the country, currently clogged up at the Gwadar Port. The president directed the National Fertiliser Marketing Ltd (NFML) to speed up the process of transportation and distribution of urea while ensuring transparency in the distribution mechanism.
In a meeting held at the Bilawal House here, the president stressed for resolving the issue of availability of fertiliser in far-flung areas of the country and controlling the rising price besides saving the imported stock from the impact of extreme weather. The meeting was held to discuss the current situation with respect to urea and price of rice, where it was informed that so far 700,000 tons of imported urea had arrived at the Gwadar port and 480,000 tons had been off-loaded.
The president observed that all efforts should be undertaken to resolve operational limitations as any adverse change in weather was likely to cause damage to the imported fertiliser lying at the port. It was also informed that the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) had offered their support to NFML for the transportation of 0.2 MT urea to up-country destination at the rates and other formalities fixed by NFML.
The president was also briefed about province-wise share, distribution and the quantity of urea fertiliser that had been distributed so far among various parts of the country. In the later part of the briefing, it was informed that according to Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), at present roughly 500,000 metric tons of Irri-6 rice was available in the market with a price of about Rs 29000 PMT. It was informed that the TCP at present was not involved in local procurement, price mechanism or export of rice and would only intervene if required by the government.
Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that in another meeting that followed this briefing, President Asif Ali Zardari reviewed situation with regards to communication network that was destroyed or partially damaged as a result of July 2010 floods. Babar said that it was informed that as a result of huge floods, extensive damage was caused to NHA network throughout Pakistan that included damages to roads, bridges, culverts, retaining walls and causeways etc. It was informed that approximately 800 kilometers of national highway network was either completely or partially damaged which is 6.6 percent of the total 12131 kilometers of NHA network. It was informed that 46 bridges were also damaged as a result of 2010 floods.
The NHA Chairman while briefing the President informed that the NHA has completed Damage Need Assessment (DNA) and has provided details to the donors ie Asian Development Bank which is the lead agency for communication/transport sector. It was informed that the cost of damages was assessed to be Rs 18.38 billion while the cost for restoration was Rs 22.41 billion without cost of social and environment impact safeguards, land cost, design and escalation etc. It was informed that chinese consultants have started design surveys and the design of South Section would be completed by January 2012.
The construction work would commence in March 2012, it was told. The design of North Section would be completed by February and by first week of March this year construction work would commence The president directed the NHA to facilitate Chinese consultants and contractors working on these projects and also to ensure their security and provide them with historical data.
Representatives of Chinese consultants and contractors were also present during the meeting. Those who were present during the meetings, included among others Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial ministers, federal secretaries, NHA Chairman and TCP Chairman besides other senior officials.