MIANWALI, Jan 23: Gas loadshedding has forced the management of a local fertiliser manufacturing company to abandon its production for at least three weeks.

The management of Pak American Fertiliser Factory, Iskanadarabad, has now decided to avail this closure period by launching annual repair of the factory.

Deputy General Manager Ahmad Din told Dawn on Wednesday that SNGPL authorities were carrying out gas loadshedding to meet its demands during the current power crisis, which was hampering the factory’s production targets.

“We have, therefore, decided to close down the factory for nearly three weeks and start its annual repair work just to keep the labourers busy during this period.”

He said this factory was prominent fertiliser producing unit in the country and was producing 1,100 tons fertiliser per day worth around Rs8 million.

Due to this closure, supply of around 23,000 ton fertiliser from this factory to local markets would come to a halt, he added.

It is pertinent to mention that farmers are already facing shortage of different varieties of fertilizers, and this closure will certainly add to their woes and provide a golden opportunity to black-marketers to fleece them.