MPs concerned over fluctuation in fertilizers prices.

ISLAMABAD -- The Speaker National Assembly, Asad Qaisar took notice of availability and pricing trend of different fertilizer products particularly DAP and Urea.

According to the statement issued on Monday, Mr. Asad Qaiser highlighted that the farmers complain that continuous surge in fertilizer prices has rendered farming unsustainable and non-competitive for the poor farmers.

He was chairing a meeting of the National Assembly Special Body on Agricultural Products on Monday 3rd October 2019 at Parliament House Islamabad where all the stakeholders were invited.

The Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research briefed the NA body about the fertilizer prices, availability and cost of production. He stated that the surge in prices is non-reasonable and the margin of profit for the fertilizer industry is quite high. Sharing figures pertaining to cost of production, he highlighted that in the last one year alone fertilizer prices have been revised almost five times.

The officials of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, representatives of provincial agriculture departments and Members of the body emphatically stressed the need for rationalizing fertilizer prices. Several members pointed out that the fertilizer manufacturers collect Rs400 per bag of urea from the farmers on account of GIDC while the same is not passed on to government.

The representatives of the fertilizers industry maintained that several misconceptions and myths are circulated that fertilizers industry has accumulated...