ISLAMABAD: The government has committed to providing an uninterrupted gas supply to all urea plants to ensure ample fertiliser availability at suitable rates during the upcoming wheat cultivation in the Rabi season.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made this commitment while chairing a meeting on Saturday at the Foreign Office to examine the urea situation and gas supplies for fertiliser plants.

An official announcement issued by the Foreign Office said that various measures were considered to ensure fertiliser availability in sufficient quantity and at a reasonable price.

Previously, the government agreed to discontinue subsidies for gas delivery to fertiliser companies. The federal cabinet has concluded that gas to fertiliser plants should be supplied at actual price rather than subsidised rates.

However, the Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has reversed the cabinet’s decision and ordered continuous gas supply to two fertiliser plants in Punjab at the current rate of Rs1,597 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) until Sept 30, shifting more than Rs15 billion of the financial impact to other consumers.

According to the official announcement, it was decided to ensure a continuous gas supply to avoid loss of imports and foreign exchange.

Mr Dar also urged the provincial governments to increase market surveillance so that prices remain stable and profiteers do not get a chance to benefit themselves.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024