ISLAMABAD, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed authorities to ensure the timely availability of fertilizers to farmers across the country to strengthen food security and support agricultural production.
Chairing a meeting on food security and fertilizer reserves in Islamabad, Sharif instructed relevant ministries and institutions to closely monitor fertilizer supply and take strict action against hoarding and artificial shortages, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
The prime minister also directed officials to prepare alternative import arrangements from Central Asian countries in view of possible disruptions in fertilizer supply chains from Gulf states.
He ordered authorities to maintain sufficient fertilizer stocks for the upcoming Kharif and Rabi crop seasons and accelerate projects aimed at boosting domestic fertilizer production through new plants.
Kharif crops in Pakistan are typically sown during the summer monsoon season and harvested in autumn, with major crops including rice, cotton and sugarcane, while Rabi crops are planted in winter and harvested in spring, mainly consisting of wheat, barley and pulses.
Officials told the meeting that fertilizer factories were receiving uninterrupted natural gas supplies and that adequate stocks were currently available for Kharif crops. ■
