ISLAMABAD  - Advisor to Prime Minister on Industries Muhammad Basharat Raja said on Tuesday that work on new industrial policy is almost complete and it will soon be presented to Minister for Industries.
After it gets consent of the Minister, the policy would be presented to the Prime Minister for final approval and announcement thereafter, he told a press conference. Raja said the government has taken action against 200 urea distributing agencies for involvement in malpractice. “There is sufficient quantity of urea fertilizer available for farmers both for Rabi and Kharif crops and 1.2 million tons of imported urea would reach country on January 28.”
“We will never tolerate or compromise in any malpractice in the distribution of urea fertilizer to the farmers and strict action will be taken against those involved in any malpractice”, he remarked. Raja said there is total demand of 6.5 million tons of urea for both Rabi and Kharif crops and if the local industry produce the commodity to its optimum and capacity, there will be no need to import urea.”
He said due to shortage of gas to the fertilizer companies the country witnessed a shortfall of 1.2 million tons of urea and the government has imported the required quantity of area to meet the needs for Rabi and Kharif crops. He added the government wanted to produce urea locally to save the foreign exchange for benefit of the country. He added that government is providing urea at Rs. 1300 per bag and in open market it prices varies up to Rs.1500 per bag.
“On the complaints of the farmers the government has taken action against 200 urea distribution agencies and through National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC) the process of vigilance is continuing”, he remarked.
Replying to a question, he said that National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC), Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), National Productivity Organization (NPO) and Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Center PITAC are working under the supervision of the Ministry of Industries. He said he has directed all the organizations to come up with new vision and plans to improve the efficiency and workings of the organizations and for the benefit of the country.
He informed that government has vacated 300 kanals of encroached land in the Export Processing Zone area to be utilized for the productive purposes. He said in recent months he introduced reforms in the price review mechanism at USC and now prices would be revised on quarterly basis and keeping in view the prices situation in the market. Due to this formula, we have brought down the prices of sugar to Rs.42 per kg and the government would provide further relief to masses through USC.
To another question, he said that he had not appointed any employee in the USC in the violation of the rules and merit. Managing Director USC was also appointed purely on merit basis out of three names submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.