ISLAMABAD: The government’s decision to classify Urea and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) among substances designated as “explosive precursors” has raised concerns among farmers, fertiliser dealers and distributors across Pakistan.
The Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), through S.R.O. 1338(I)/2026, issued on August 7, 2026 and published in the Gazette of Pakistan on August 8, 2026, declared 23 substances as explosive precursors. The notification places their manufacture, import, export, storage, transportation, sale, supply and transfer under the regulatory framework of the Explosives Act, 1884 and Explosives Rules, 2010, subject to licensing and other requirements.
Ghulam Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of the All Pakistan Fertilizer Dealers Association (APFDA) , has urged the government to immediately assess the potential agricultural and economic impact of bringing Urea and DAP under the new regulatory framework and introduce a separate, clear and risk-based regulatory mechanism for mainstream agricultural fertilisers.
Mr Ahmed said that while the government’s security concerns were understandable, applying regulations primarily designed for sensitive chemicals to Urea and DAP — two of Pakistan’s most widely used agricultural inputs — could create unnecessary complications for the country’s fertiliser distribution network.
He said millions of Pakistani farmers depended on timely availability of Urea and DAP, adding that any disruption in their transportation, storage or sale could increase production costs and affect crop productivity.
He warned that additional licensing requirements and administrative delays could result in supply disruptions, higher distribution costs and shortages in some regions, ultimately placing the burden on farmers.
“Any significant disruption in the supply chain of Urea and DAP would not remain confined to the fertiliser trade. It could affect crop production, farm incomes, food prices and, ultimately, Pakistan’s food security,” Mr Ahmed said.
He stressed that enhanced controls could be justified for genuinely high-risk materials, but Urea and DAP should be governed through a product-specific and risk-based regulatory framework that protects security without disrupting legitimate agricultural commerce.
Mr Ahmed proposed the use of digital registration, invoice-based traceability, batch tracking and monitoring of unusual transactions to strengthen oversight of Urea and DAP without creating unnecessary barriers for legitimate dealers and farmers.
“National security and food security are not competing objectives. Pakistan must protect both,” he said.
He urged the government to consult fertiliser manufacturers, distributors, dealers, farmer organisations, security agencies and technical experts before implementing S.R.O. 1338(I)/2026 in a manner that could disrupt the agricultural supply chain.
He cautioned that any major disruption in the availability of Urea and DAP could have consequences for Pakistan’s entire agricultural system.