LAHORE : March 1,,2023: The representatives of All Pakistan Fertilizer Dealers Association (APFDA) have refused to call off their strike and resume sale of fertilizers in the Punjab unless the government withdraws a supervisory sales’ notification of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension).
APFDA ‘s representatives conveyed to the chief secretary Punjab and other officials during a meeting held in Lahore on Tuesday that the notification of the Deputy Director Agriculture Extension Punjab issued on February 22, 2022 assigning the officers of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) role to supervise the sale of urea at the sale points was unacceptable. The objective of the supervisory role of the officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) seems to ensure sales of the urea to the farmers, but in fact, it practically opened up a new window of ‘purchi’ system for the supervisors appointed by the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) to make money.
Of course, the idea to appoint supervisors for supervision of urea and other fertilizers sale is a bad idea and it was to create problems for the fertilizer dealers who invest huge money for doing business of fertilizers .
The fertilizer dealers have the legal rights to challenge this order of the Punjab government and resist it at every forum.
Sources said the representatives of APFDA focused on the same issue in the meeting held with the chief secretary Punjab and his team and they conveyed to the official side that in the presence of the sale supervisory system it was not possible for the fertilizer dealers to carry out business of fertilzers in the province .
On APFDA call, the fertilizer dealers are on the shutter down strike since February 23,2023 against the decision of the Punjab Agriculture Department to give supervisory role to its officials for sale of urea.
The chief secretary Punjab noted the point of view of APFDA and sought two days to review the notification regarding supervisory role of the officials of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) for sale of urea.
Taking to NEWSMAN , APFDA pattern- in -chief , Mr Ghulam Ahmad said the dealers representatives have taken a lawful position against the decision of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) and conveyed to the chief secretary and his team in Tuesday’s meeting that the dealers can not do their business of fertilizers in the Punjab if the officials sit at sale points to promote the ‘purchi’ system and create a culture of corruption in the business of fertilizers.
Mr Ghulam Ahmad said APFDA hopes the chief secretary Punjab will take the dealers reservations seriously and cancel the notification of the Punjab Agriculture Department (Extension) to help the dealer continue the business of fertilzers in the Punjab and ensure supply of fertilzers to the growers without any hassle.