Clarification

Fertilizer Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) has acknowledged that fertilizer companies' have not been paid due to an "unnecessary" verification process initiated by the provincial governments, says a press release issued here on Friday.
Clarifying its position on a news item appeared in Business Recorder on the subsidy claims controversy, the FMPAC has claimed that fertilizer manufacturers have maintained accuracy and transparency, while submitting the claims for subsidy and all allegations of false claims are absolutely baseless.
According to a press release, the fertilizer industry-claims that subsidy scheme promises much needed support to the farmer community of Pakistan. The government had made commitment to pay the subsidy claims within 15 days, for the fertilizer sold on subsidized rates. Unfortunately, the claims have not been paid for unnecessary verification by provincial governments, three of them not supporting the scheme in principle. The manufacturing companies have even been asked to submit indemnity bonds for accuracy of claims. In spite of all the assurances by this most responsible sector, only a fraction of the amounts has been released after a lapse of nine months.
The fertilizer industry is of the view that the government's actual notification on subsidy does not ask for any verification. It is just an unfair tactic to delay the reimbursement of subsidy to the fertilizer companies, who have already contributed huge amounts to this subsidy programme, by selling fertilizers 'below-cost'. These manufacturers are now eagerly waiting to get their money back from the government.