ECC allows urea import

ISLAMABAD - In a bid to meet the soaring urea demand, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday has decided to allow import of two lakh tonnes of urea for the Rabi crop of 2011-12. The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet that met under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh after having detailed deliberations in the light of the urea situation and the supply of gas for its production took the decision of importing 2 lakh tonnes of urea for the Rabi crop 2011-12. It may be recalled that on a summary circulated by the Ministry of Industries earlier on September 13th 2011, the ECC had constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of the Senior Minister for Industries. In light of the recommendations of the constituted committee, the ECC has now allowed 2 lakh tonnes of urea for the Rabi crop of 2011-12. However, the meeting did not take decision regarding removing tax exemptions and to stop the supply of petrol and diesel exported for US and NATO in Afghanistan. Official told that ECC would take it in next meeting apart from other decision of imposing ban on the imports of CNG cylinders and kits. The Ministry of Petroleum had sought ban on the imports on CNG cylinders and kits in order to discourage CNG in the country. Meanwhile, the Committee has also constituted two different committees on the summaries moved by Ministry of Industries for removal of levy of 16 per cent sales tax on agriculture tractors and purchase of two lakh tonnes of sugar from Pakistan Sugar Mills Associations. The Economic Coordination Committee had lengthy discussion on the summary moved by the Ministry of Industries which proposed purchase of 2 lakh tonnes of sugar from the local Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, constituted a committee in this regard. The Committee shall look into the sugar situation in the country, quantity of the sugar from different mills and their respective price, the additional expenses as per tender terms, and to ensure that there should be no violation of the PEPRA condition in finalising the lifting of sugar from the PSMA, and the role of TCP. The Chairman of the ECC Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh opined that the rest of the sugar mills who are not participating in the tender should also be invited in it so that there may not have any complaint in future. The ECC also constituted a committee on the proposal floated by the Ministry of Industries in its summary for the removal of 16 per cent sales tax on agriculture tractors. The committee headed by the Minister for Industries and comprising Secretaries Revenue, Finance, Industries and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Agriculture shall submit its report to the chair before the next ECC expected this week. The summary by the Ministry of Industries pleading its case maintained that increase in the prices of tractors has made it difficult for the farmers to purchase new tractors and convert traditional farming into mechanical farming for higher yield, especially when cost of other agriculture inputs has gone up substantially. Furthermore, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) has also not been extending loans for purchase of tractors since April 2010, creating another impediment for the farmers. The production of tractors since March 2011 has also declined drastically from over 72,000 units to around 20,000 units per annum. Among others who attended the meeting included Senior Minister for Industries Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Minister for Railways, Ghous Bux Mehar, Minister for Privatisation, Anwar Ali Cheema, Minister of Production, Mir.Changez Khan Jamali, Minister for Science and Technology and Secretaries of all the concerned Ministries and heads of corporations.