ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The government will distribute 400,000 tons of subsidised urea among the farmers in the next couple of weeks for maintaining prices at the current level so as to avoid the impact of fertiliser shortage on agricultural output.

A source in the ministry of industry and production told Dawn on Thursday that six ships carrying urea fertiliser have already reached at Karachi and Gwadar ports, while the remaining ships will arrive soon.

The total urea to be imported stood at 300,000 tons for distribution among farmers at subsidised rate besides local procurement of 350,000 tons from domestic urea producing companies.

According to the source, so far only 100,000 tons of urea from domestic manufacturers has been procured leaving a large quantity of 250,000 still waiting to be procured from the local manufacturers. The payment for the local purchase has also been allocated and the total procurement is expected to be completed by early next February, the source added.

Minister for Industries and Production Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo convened an emergency meeting on the distribution and import of urea here on Thursday. It was also attended by Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Mohammad Gondal.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmed Ali Aolak and parliamentary secretary, ministry of industry and production Pir Haider Ali Shah, besides the owners of fertiliser producing companies were also present at the meeting.

An official statement issued after the meeting said that up to January 15, the 300,000 tons imported urea would be transported into the country for distribution among the local farmers.

While for the local procurement of 350,000 tons of urea the National Fertiliser Corporation (NFC) and Utility Stores Corporation (USC) have arranged transportation and warehousing.

Mr Wattoo directed the concerned officials that transportation of urea should be enhanced so that demand of farmers should be met in time. He said black marketing of urea would not be tolerated if anybody found in this game would be penalised.

He directed the chairman NFC and MD Utility Store Corporation to work day and night to ensure supply of urea at the doorsteps of the farmers. He also directed the NFC management to obtain 350,000 tons (50 per cent local urea production) from the local manufacturers up to Jan 15 for which orders and payment be released immediately.

He further said to monitor the entire system of distribution, transportation and import of urea a committee has been formed at the federal level. Additional secretary industries will head the committee with members, including additional secretary agriculture, Punjab and Sindh secretaries of agriculture departments, MD USC and chairman, NFC and the parliamentary secretary.

A tehsil level committee has also been formed to monitor distribution of Urea in tehsils and districts. He described that MNA, MPA, and USC area manager, NFC representatives, local tehsildar and officers of provincial agriculture departments will be members of these tehsil level committees, which will ensure proper distribution of urea among farmers on control prices.

Mr Wattoo said that the provincial governments should also ensure obtaining remaining 50 per cent of urea from the local manufactures for distribution among farmers through private dealers. Stern action would be taken if any dealer found involved in black marketing, he added.