The Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) has agreed to lower urea prices to provide relief to farmers across the country, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Industries and Production on Wednesday.
During a meeting, Fauji Fertiliser Company Managing Director Jhanagir Paracha conveyed this decision to Industries and Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain. Paracha informed the minister that the FMPAC unanimously endorsed reducing urea prices.
The meeting also covered discussions on fertiliser prices and gas supply to fertiliser plants. The minister assured that the FMPAC’s proposals would be presented to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet for a final decision.
The proposals include formally allocating and supplying gas exclusively from the Mari Gas field to all fertiliser plants under bilateral arrangements in accordance with applicable gas pricing policies. Additionally, the government is urged to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply for the next 10 years.
The government was also requested to establish uniform urea prices nationwide to discourage hoarding by middlemen and agencies, ensuring affordable urea availability for farmers and saving foreign exchange spent on urea imports.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reiterated the government’s commitment to facilitating farmers during the ongoing Kharif season and assured that these proposals would be addressed at the ECC meeting.
In a separate development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari advocated for special incentives for farmers in the upcoming budget session and urged direct relief for small farmers through agricultural sector subsidies. He emphasized the implementation of a “Kisan Card” system and the engagement of all stakeholders to formulate consistent agricultural policies.
Bilawal demanded decisive action on the wheat import controversy, urging accountability for those responsible. He underscored agriculture’s crucial role in Pakistan’s development and called for renewed focus and support for the country’s agricultural sector.
