Shehbaz Sharif requests PM to restore subsidy on fertilizers
PTI has already given a 72-hour ultimatum to government on retaining fertilizer subsidy
LAHORE (Dunya News) – In an interesting turn of events, the government of Punjab and opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have appeared on same page following federal government’s order to omit subsidy on fertilizers.
Chief Minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif has requested his elder brother and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, to restore the subsidy on fertilizers. He has pleaded that the decision will benefit farmers in Punjab.
According to quoted figures, 22 million farmers in the country’s largest province will have monetary profit of PKR 77 billion if the subsidy is retained.
However, the Punjab CM slammed leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on their comments about fertilizer subsidy. He noted that playing politics on the issue will not help the poor farmers.
PTI has already announced to oppose the federal government in parliament following its decision to end subsidy on fertilizers. PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi told that the party is making contacts with farmers organizations and agriculturists to denounce federation.
On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif assured the Punjab CM that he will look into the matter. Shehbaz Sharif has directed the agriculture department to provide farmers with fertilizer sacks already available in storage. He asked the department to include subsidy concession on fertilizer price.
