Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed on Tuesday that work on plans to establish new plants for increasing local fertilizer production should be expedited.
He said this while chairing an important meeting on food security and the fertilizer stock situation in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (FO) said today.
The briefing to the meeting informed that, in view of the country’s requirements, the uninterrupted supply of natural gas to factories for local fertilizer production continues.
Adequate fertilizer reserves are available for Kharif crops, the meeting was informed.
Meanwhile, the PM directed that the timely supply of fertilizer to farmers be ensured under all circumstances.
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He said that in view of the impact on the fertilizer supply chain from Gulf countries, planning should be undertaken for alternative supplies from Central Asian countries.
Adequate fertilizer reserves for the Kharif and Rabi seasons should also be ensured, he said.
“Meeting the needs of the agricultural sector to ensure food security is the government’s top priority,” the prime minister said.
He also directed the relevant ministries and institutions to continuously monitor fertilizer supplies and that strict action must be taken against artificial shortages and hoarding of fertilizer.