ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: Federal food and agriculture minister Nazar Mohammad Gondal said on Friday that there was no shortage of wheat and fertilisers in the country, but some profiteers and hoarders were creating their artificial shortage.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Gondal warned profiteers of a strict action, and asked farmers to identify those indulging in over-charging.

Pakistan’s demand for di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) during rabi season till Dec 31 would not exceed 820,000 tons and there are 990,000 tons of DAP stocks with the government. So, there is no question of shortages, he said.

The minister said that the government was providing Rs27 billion subsidy on DAP and had fixed its official rate at Rs3050 to 3100 per bag. The government, he said, had also frozen prices of urea fertilisers at Rs636 a bag.

For the rabi crop, Pakistan needs 2.6 million tons of fertilisers while there were stocks of 2.5 million tons. A mechanism, he said, had been evolved to monitor the fertiliser situation and to ensure its availability in the country.

The Punjab government, he said, had registered about 336 FIRs and fined those involved in overcharging and hoarding.

Mr Gondal said that if situation does not improve, the government would release fertilisers through open market and not through dealers to frustrate the designs of hoarders.

He said that district coordination officers (DCOs) have been asked to maintain a vigil on fertilisers stock positions in their respective districts.

Answering a question, the minister said that the country was facing a shortfall of 2.5million tons of wheat while the government was in the process importing 3.5 million tons.

So far, 1.5 million tons of wheat has been imported, 200,000 tons was being shipped and tenders for import of 750,000 tons would be floated within next two weeks.

He said various incentives offered by the government and new guaranteed minimum procurement price (Rs950 per 40 kg) for the new wheat crop would help achieve wheat production target of 25 million tons, and the country would not have to import it more.He said that the Punjab government had enhanced flour supplies to the NWFP.