Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on the request of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, has restored subsidy on fertilisers.Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had urged PM Nawaz Sharif to restore the fertilisers subsidy scheme which will benefit 22 million farmers of the province with Rs77 billion and their production cost will be cut down to eight per cent.The premier said that agriculture was the backbone of economy and farmers must be facilitated to achieve bumper crops for accelerated GDP growth.He directed that subsidy on fertilisers should continue for the benefit of the farming community and achieving the targets of major crops.The PM assured him of full assistance of the federal government in this regard as the development of agriculture sector and welfare of cultivators is among the PML-N government’s priorities, he added.Also, according to a DGPR handout, issued here on Friday, Shahbaz had requested the PM to continue subsidy on fertilisers. The PM said the interest and welfare of farmers was very dear to him.Meanwhile, in a statement Punjab CM said the PML-N government had taken unprecedented steps in the history of the country for economic uplift of cultivators and development of agriculture.He said those indulging in negative politics of allegations and lies proved their enmity by creating hindrances in farmers’ welfare programme, but the Punjab government, by evolving the Kissan package, subsidised fertilisers rates and many others had proved its farmers’ friendship, which would result in strengthening of the national economy.He said grand eloquence alone could not address public issues rather it needed practical steps and the whole nation was witness to the fact that negligence of so-called sympathisers of farmers in the power sector was the reason of today’s poor condition of our cultivators.He said it did not behove those to sympathise with farmers who closed their tubewells through criminal negligence in electricity production.Shahbaz directed the Agriculture Department to provide existing fertilisers in hoards at subsidised rates and keep an eye on hoarders and profiteers so that subsidy should be in reach of cultivators. He warned that strict action would be taken against those trying to increase the price of fertilisers in the province.Agriculture is the backbone of the country and apart from meeting domestic requirements; the sector is also fetching most of the foreign exchange that Pakistan earns. A few days back, the Government provided a hefty package to the industry which depends largely on agriculture. There is dire need to bring down the cost of inputs, which have pushed the prices of agricultural commodities to a level where they have become non-competitive in the international market. Instead of raising procurement prices time and again and that too alarmingly, the Government should subsidize agricultural machinery, fertilizer, seed and pesticides to help bring down the cost of production. The decision to continue the subsidy on fertilizer is good development and it should be implemented properly and on urgent basis to facilitate the agriculture sector so that the economy of the country could be avoided from any negative impact.
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