ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Government will provide all possible cooperation and give more incentives to the private sector for the development of fertiliser industry in the country.

This was stated by Adviser to the prime minister on Science and Technology Prof Dr Attaur Rehman while addressing the concluding session of the second international seminar organised by FFC in Islamabad on Tuesday.

"A country like Pakistan should be self-sufficient in the production of fertilisers,” he said.

The fertiliser production has expanded and now stands at 5.7 million tons a year with private sector holding almost the entire production capacity against a demand of chemical fertilisers to the tune of 7.5 million tons a year.

“Hence, we have a sizeable gap between the local availability and demand. The gap is now being filled through imports.”