ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to ensure the timely availability of fertilisers to farmers across the country to strengthen food security and support the agricultural sector.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, the directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by PM Sharif to review the country’s food security situation and fertiliser reserves.
During the meeting, the prime minister instructed relevant ministries and institutions to maintain continuous monitoring of fertiliser supply and availability.
He also directed authorities to ensure strict action against artificial shortages and hoarding of fertilisers.
The prime minister said fulfilling the needs of the agricultural sector remains the government’s top priority to ensure national food security.
Keeping in view possible disruptions in fertiliser supply chains from Gulf countries, the prime minister directed officials to prepare alternative arrangements for fertiliser imports from Central Asian states.
He further instructed authorities to ensure sufficient fertiliser reserves for both the upcoming Kharif and Rabi crop seasons.
Sharif also directed officials to accelerate work on projects aimed at increasing domestic fertiliser production through the establishment of new plants.
The meeting was informed that fertiliser factories are continuously receiving an uninterrupted natural gas supply to meet local production requirements.
Officials briefed the meeting that adequate fertiliser stocks are currently available for Kharif crops.
Federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar, and senior government officials attended the meeting.
