ISLAMABAD: While reviewing fertiliser situation for rabi season, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research on Monday expressed its concerns over the gradual increase in DAP prices despite declining trend on the international market.

A meeting chaired by Minister for National Food Security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar also discussed the cost of domestic urea and profiteering by manufacturing companies.

It was pointed out that the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess collected from farmers by these companies was not being deposited to the national exchequer.

The National Assembly Special Committee on Agricultural Products has assigned a task of evaluation of profit margin of various fertiliser products, especially urea and DAP. It was agreed that the Competition Commission of Pakistan will present its findings on the profit margin of various fertiliser products at its next meeting.

Following a detailed presentation by the National Fertiliser Development Centre (NFDC), the meeting expressed satisfaction over available urea and DAP stocks for rabi season 2019-20.

On the proposal of the food minister, the cabinet committee on fertiliser is constituted under the chairmanship of the planning minister, which will also look into the high profitability and high prices of both urea and DAP.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2019