PM seeks to explore alternative sources of fertilizer from Central Asian countries
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed exploring Central Asian fertilizer sources and boosting local production to ensure timely supply to farmers, safeguard food security, and combat hoarding.
- Exploring alternative fertilizer sources from Central Asian countries.
- Expediting projects for new fertilizer plants to boost local production.
- Government's proactive measures to ensure food security and farmer access.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities to explore alternative sources of fertilizer from Central Asian countries in view of potential disruptions in the supply chain from Gulf nations.
Chairing a high-level meeting on food security and the fertilizer stock situation, the prime minister stressed the need to expedite projects aimed at establishing new fertilizer plants to boost local production.
He underlined that ensuring the timely supply of fertilisers to farmers must remain a top priority under all circumstances.
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“Meeting the requirements of the agricultural sector to guarantee food security is the government’s foremost concern,” he said, emphasising that ample stock must be maintained for both the Kharif and Rabi cropping seasons.
The prime minister instructed the relevant ministries and institutions to closely monitor fertilizer supplies on an ongoing basis, warning that strict action would be taken against hoarding and artificial shortages.
During the briefing, officials informed the PM that uninterrupted natural gas was being supplied to fertiliser factories to sustain domestic production in line with national needs. They also confirmed that adequate stocks of fertiliser were available for the upcoming Kharif season.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Economic Affairs AhadCheema, and Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State Bilal for Finance AzharKiyani, the special assistant to the prime minister on industries Haroon Akhtar, and senior government officials.
The Prime Minister’s directives reflect the government’s proactive approach to safeguarding the agricultural sector against global supply chain uncertainties and ensuring that farmers have reliable access to essential inputs.
Observers noted that boosting local fertiliser production and exploring new import avenues would help stabilise prices and support food security in the country.
Officials reiterated that continuous monitoring and enforcement against irregularities in the fertiliser market was a key to maintaining stability in the sector and avoiding disruptions that could impact crop production.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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