ATTOCK, Dec 22: The district is facing severe shortage of fertilizer, causing great hardships to the farmers who are now in the process of applying it to the wheat crop which is at its nascent stage.

Usually farmers apply fertilizers to the wheat and other seasonal crops with the start of winter rain spell.

A local farmer said with the start of rain the spread of urea was ideal but he said when he approached the local dealers for the purchase of fertilizer it was not available with him.

Some affected agriculturist blamed urea smuggling by the fertilizer companies and wholesalers to NWFP for its shortage. While some hoarders also restricted the supply of fertilizer to earn more profit.

They demanded the government to take concrete measures for provision of sufficient supply of urea and fertilizers in the market besides taking action against the hoarders and controlling its smuggling.

UREA BAGS SEIZED: On the directive of the Punjab government, the agricultural department in its campaign against hoarding and black-marketing, seized 1880 bags of fertilizer from the hoarders in three separate attempts at different areas of the district, it has been learnt.

The agricultural officials have recovered 1300 bags urea in a surprise raid at a local fertilizer dealer in Hasanabdal tehsil, 200 bags from a dealer at Hazro, 300 bags from Jand and 80 bags from a dealer in Domail village, the sources said.

Besides imposing fines, separate cases were also registered by the respective police stations against the accused hoarders, they maintained. Later on the confiscated urea bags were distributed among the farmers of respective areas on official rates, the sources added.

BUS TERMINAL: The district coordination officer (DCO) Attock on Monday directed the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) Attock to eliminate all encroachments from the Attock general bus stand and provide toilet and other necessary facilities to the commuters, it has been learnt.

Waiting hall, pathways and other areas of the bus stand had been occupied by the vendors, fruit sellers and other people, causing problems to the commuters.

During surprise visit to the bus terminal DCO Saqib Zafar asked the TMA’s officials they should ensure that lights at the terminal were in order, waiting hall had sitting facility, toilet was clean and vehicles were parked at their respective route wise sheds with display of fares, the sources said.

Mr Zafar also directed the officials to take measures for shifting fruit, vegetable vendors and handcarts to any suitable places.

Later on the DCO also visited the vegetable, fruit bazaar and others local markets to check the rates and quality of food commodities besides inspecting the cleanliness situation of city areas, sources added.

ROBBERS GANG HELD: Fatehang Police have busted a five-member gang of robbers and recovered weapons after a brief encounter near Durnal village.

Police said that a police team in its routine patrolling signaled a car to stop. But the motorists opened fire on the police in a bid to escape from the scene, but they were overpowered by the police after a brief encounter.

The police also recovered five pistols from their possession besides impounding their vehicle.