*Profiteers and hoarders are the enemies of public* : PM
*Strict administrative and legal action be taken against profiteers and hoarders* : PM
*There is no shortage of essential commodities in the country* : PM
Prime Minister said, “Recovering the forest land from land grabbers and encroachers is Government’s top priority to increase green cover of Pakistan.”
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
“Stern action will be taken against those fertilizer manufacturers who in connivance with some dealers may be acting as mafia to create artificial shortages to escalate prices”, said the Prime Minister while chairing a high level meeting to review wheat and fertilizer stock in the Country today.
The meeting was informed that there is 6.6 million metric tons of public wheat stock available while as adequate stock of fertilizer will be available for the Rabi crop in 2021. Both stocks are adequate to meet the requirements of the Country.
According to data collected, it was informed that fertilizer companies based in Sind have provided abnormally greater stock to some dealers in Sind as compared to dealers in other areas of the Country where it is required for meeting cultivation demands.
The Prime Minister expressed serious concern over the disproportionate stock distribution of Urea and directed that fertilizer be provided to other areas as per requirement of farmers.
The Prime Minister emphasized that PTI government has introduced farmer friendly policies for the first time in the history of the Country. However, he lamented that mafias are busy in profiteering rather than caring for interest of consumers.
The Prime Minister said that Government is providing Rs. 120 billion subsidy on Gas to the Fertilizer industry along with Rs. 100 billion worth tax incentives. Yet the fertilizer companies are supplying extra amount of fertilizer to specific dealers in some areas which reports indicate are involved in hoarding. This disparity has benefited the hoarders as a result of which artificial shortage has been created.
The Prime Minister directed immediate crack-down on fertilizer hoarders and punitive action as per Anti-profiteering and anti-hoarding laws.
The Prime Minister directed that Track & Trace system introduced for Sugar sector should also be used for fertilizer industry to discourage artificial shortage and price manipulation.
The Prime Minister said that legal recourse will be taken against hoarders and profiteers and if the Provincial Government of Sind does not take effevtive measures against these anti-people criminals, the Federal Government may intervene under relevant legal provisions to compensate for inaction of Sind Government against hoarders as this inaction by Sind Government is adversely affecting the supply and prices of fertilizer throughout the Country including Sindh.
An other meeting Prime Minister said, “Recovering the forest land from land grabbers and encroachers is Government’s top priority to increase green cover of Pakistan.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan while chairing a meeting of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) on Housing, Construction & Development.
The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to multiply country’s forest cover by ensuring forestation on encroached lands.
He added,”Curbing on unauthorised land use and restricting horizontal sprawl of housing societies is essential to ensure food security and the provision of better civic amenities like water and sewerage.”
The Prime Minister directed that the cadastral survey findings should be shared with the provinces and it should be followed by swift action to retrieve public property.
He directed the provinces and CDA to determine how many encroachments were made in the past and how many have been cleared. He declared that he will personally chair the fortnightly meetings to see what progress is made.
He underlined that the Government is accountable to the people of Pakistan and it is its top priority to protect Government land. He emphasised on adopting systematic approach to deal with Qabza mafia. He directed the Chairman CDA to create a special cell to save valuable public land marked for parks and forests.
Earlier the Prime Minister was apprised that Surveyor General of Pakistan is working in active coordinating with CDA, Government of the Punjab and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to complete the cadastral records of Government properties, Islamabad, Lahore and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB).
The meeting was attended by Advisor on Finance Shaukat Fayyaz Tarin, MOS on Information & Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, SAPM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, SAPM on Political Communication Dr Shehbaz Gill, Governor State Bank Dr Reza Baqir and senior officers concerned.