TAXILA: All measures should be taken to provide a sack of urea fertiliser for Rs1,768, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Imran Hamid Sheikh said on Sunday.

He was speaking at a meeting attended by officials of the agriculture and other departments.

Taking notice of artificial shortage and sale of urea fertiliser at exorbitant rates, officials of Attock administration carried out surprise checks at warehouses across the district to ensure its availability to farmers at official rates.

He said wheat crop was an important component of food security and supply of urea fertiliser for its cultivation would be ensured, adding that dealers involved in stockpiling and wholesale of agricultural fertilisers would be penalised.

He directed administrative officers to carry out strict monitoring to curb smuggling of urea fertiliser. Officers should compile a complete record of transportation of fertiliser from factories to dealers and discourage the role of middlemen in its provision, he added.

Earlier, the deputy commissioner along with respective assistant commissioners, officials from the agriculture, food and industries departments as well as special branch raided various warehouses and stores of fertiliser and pesticide dealers to check the inventory and stock.

Talking to journalists in Hassanabdal, DC Sheikh said the district administration had launched a crackdown on fertiliser hoarders.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2021