Agri Forum Pakistan (AFP) President Ibrahim Mughal alleged that urea fertiliser bag of Rs 1,700 is being sold at Rs 2,050 in nine districts of Southern Punjab and four districts of Central Punjab. In a statement issued here on Friday, he said this unjustifiable increase of Rs 350 per urea bag is adding to the input cost of the growers while at certain places farmers are being forced to buy DAP fertilizer also along with urea.
He said that he had received complaints from the 13 districts heads of his organisation who said hoarders and urea manufacturing companies increased the price taking advantage of its shortage. He regretted that the Chief Minister Punjab and other members of the ruling party are just offering lip service on this important issue while the situation on ground is very worse for the growers.
Dr Ibrahim Mughal warned that wheat had already sown on less area this year and if trend of shortage of black marketing of fertiliser would continue, province of Punjab would never be able to achieve the production target of 20 million tons but fertiliser mafia definitely mint Rs 5-7 billion additionally.
He claimed that black marketing of urea is open and dealers simply refuse to growers on the excuse of shortage if farmers insist to buy it on Rs 1,700 per bag but if the amount of dealers’ choice is offered then anybody can any quantity of the fertiliser. AFP Chairman urged the government to open its eyes otherwise country would never be able to achieve the wheat production target and suffer a loss of Rs 90 to 100 billion.
