Pakistan to immediately import fertilizers from China: PM’s aide

Islamabad: On the special directions of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari fertilizers will be imported from China on an immediate basis for the next harvest of wheat to mitigate the current shortage of fertilizer across the country, a key aide of the PM said.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Qamar Zaman Kaira pledged that the government will address all possible demands and issues of farmers to facilitate them.

Addressing at farmers gathering here, Kaira he said that the farmers’ main demands were decrease in utility bills, taxes and urea price which will be considered on a priority basis but due to the current economic situation the electricity tariff was increased in the country.

“We will import fertilizers from China immediately to resolve the shortage issue. This will also help the farmers in the upcoming harvest season,” he contended.

He stressed that in 2009 and 2010 due to the hard work of farmers, Pakistan was self sufficient in the bumper production of wheat and sugarcane and that’s why the price of flour and sugar remained controlled at that time.

“The government will introduce the friendly policies for the farmers to support and develop the agriculture sector,” he promised.

Kaira claimed that the government was taking hard decisions for the sake of farmers and low income segments of the country as the government was fully aware of their problems.