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Summary The Federal government has proposed to import 0.6 million tons urea during current financial year.
The Federal government has proposed to import 0.6 million tons urea in next financial year starting from July 1, 2012 as energy situation is still not satisfactory indicating need of continuous import of urea, say sources.A target of 4,174 thousand nutrient tones off take is projected for year 2012-13 to achieve the crop production target.According to an official familiar with the development told Online Sunday that the country has ample stock of urea for the Kharif Season whereas the Committee for Review of Urea Situation in the end of August would take the decision whether urea will be imported for Rabi season or not.Pakistan has sufficient capacity for urea production. However due to energy crisis, less supply of gas was available to the urea plants resulting in underutilization of plant capacity and less production. To fill the supply demand gap about 1.5 million tones of urea was imported during 2011-12.The price of urea in international market was almost two times that in Pakistan because of provision of heavy subsidy. Subsidy on imported urea was around Rs 51 billion in 2011-12. Almost an equal amount was calculated on subsidized gas supplies to fertilizer manufacturing plant in that period.On overall basis, the fertilizer off take in 2011-12 was 4.1 per cent less as compared to 2010-11 achievements and 7.5 per cent less against target.
