Protest to launch by Kissan Board against fertiliser shortage

MULTAN: Central general secretary Kissan Board Pakistan (KBP) Malik Ramazan Rohari said on Wednesday that growers would launch a protest campaign against fertiliser shortage and its impact on prices at district level from Sept 10.

Addressing a press conference here he said that growers would protest in front of the Punjab Assembly after conclusion of district level protests if the issue of fertiliser shortage was not addressed.

He said that shortage of natural gas was a reason behind fertiliser shortage and added that only 12 per cent fertiliser would have to be imported if need-based supply of gas was ensured to fertiliser factories.

He said that growers are now between a rock and a hard place because fertiliser factories were not getting enough gas supplies and imports would be costlier.

He said that factories could supply fertiliser at Rs 925 per bag in case of need-based supply while an imported bag of urea would cost around Rs 3,000.

KBP South Punjab President Malik Fayyazul Hassan Bhutta said that natural gas was utilized only to manufacture fertiliser in the developed world while LPG was used as fuel. However, in our country, the major quantity of the fuel is being used for cooking food at homes and hotels or as CNG fuel.

He expressed apprehensions that the situation could transform into a crisis during the Rabi season if proper attention was not paid to address it.

Other KBP leaders including Jam Huzoor Bakhsh, Mian Ibrahim and Babar Khan Durrani were also present.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011