ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to ensure the timely availability of fertilizers to farmers nationwide 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 fertilizer reserves.
During the meeting, the prime minister instructed relevant ministries and institutions to maintain continuous monitoring of fertilizer supply and availability.
He also directed authorities to ensure strict action against artificial shortages and hoarding of fertilizers.
The prime minister said fulfilling the needs of the agricultural sector remains the government’s top priority to ensure national food security.
In view of possible disruptions to fertilizer supply chains from Gulf countries, the prime minister directed officials to prepare alternative arrangements for fertilizer imports from Central Asian states.
He further instructed authorities to ensure sufficient fertilizer reserves for both the upcoming Kharif and Rabi crop seasons.
Sharif also directed officials to accelerate work on projects to increase domestic fertilizer production by establishing new plants.
The meeting was informed that fertilizer factories are receiving an uninterrupted supply of natural gas to meet local production requirements.
Officials briefed the meeting on the availability of adequate fertilizer stocks 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.
