Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's directive to the Ministry of Industries and Production for timely delivery of fertilizer to the farmers comes at a time when the growers all over the country are facing an acute shortage of this crucial agri-input. Whether or not the federal Minister for Industries and Production Mian Manzoor Wattoo will deliver on his Premier's directive is a question mark. The minister says around 250,000 tons of imported urea is lying at the Gwadar port which, according to him, will be disbursed through the outlets of NFC and Utility Stores throughout the country. The growers, though, have already termed the fertilizer distribution through the Utility Stores network as unwise. Sindh Abadgar Board leader Gada Hussain Mahesar in a news report suspects the Utility Stores' capability distribute the fertilizer fairly. The Utility Stores has already fallen flat in the wheat flour distribution and the affected people were seen crying at their door for not having received the flour from these Stores. Meanwhile, the fertiliser continues to be sold on inflated rates. In the black market, a 50 kg bag of fertiliser is being sold at Rs 1,000 to 1,100 against the actual rate of Rs 650. -MOHAMMAD SALEEM SHAIKH, Karachi, via e-mail, January 25.