RAWALPINDI : Sept 27 : An imbalanced anti- smuggling drive is going to create urea shortage for Rabi crops in Baluchistan as the Sindh police have confiscated dozens of trucks loaded with Sona Urea at Jacobabad and Shikarpur check posts , assuming the shipments were to be smuggled to Afghanistan.
Sources said the lorries confiscated at Jacobabad and Shikarpur check posts have all the legal documents and details of the factory from where shipments were loaded and dispatched and addresses with full details of the dealers who booked the shipments to cater to the market demand for Rabi crops.
The Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Pakistan’s leading fertilizer producer , has brought the matter of confiscation of its trucks carrying Sona urea for Afghanistan into the notice of the Fertilizer Manufacturers Association to talk to the concerned authorities to put an end to its ordeal.
Sources said in an SoS sent to Fertilizer Manufacturers Association FFC said “We are facing extreme difficulties in shipment of urea to Baluchistan since a few months. Despite having complete documents Sindh Police on the instructions of ‘Intelligence Agencies’ declaring it as illegal and confiscating our vehicles at Shikarpur and Jacobabad check posts”.
FFC SoS added that in a recent incident, the Sindh Police and district government in collaboration with intelligence agencies have confiscated 28 vehicles of Sona urea (P) at Shikarpur & Jacobabad on account of smuggling to Afghanistan. It maintained that all the vehicles confiscated by Sindh police were shipped from FFC plants (Goth Machhi & Mirpur Mathelo) and destined for different sales points of Baluchistan starting from Dera Allah Yar District to Quetta/Pishin.
According to FFC SoS , all confiscated vehicles were having original invoices, authority letters and shipments information was also available at Govt MFS Portal. Moreover, as per set procedure, DG Agriculture, Baluchistan also issued NOC for all above vehicles after scrutiny/verification of data from MFS Portal. SoS further said “Despite having all legal requisites, vehicles were declared illegal and confiscated at Shikarpur and Jacobabad Check Posts by Sindh Police on the instructions of ‘Intelligence Agencies”’.
“Our local Team have contacted with the Police/District Govt. officials and presented all documentation & NOC and also offered for any further documentation/verification for genuineness of shipments, but vehicles are still not released”, it noted.
It said due to recurrence of such incidents, Engro and Fatima Fertilizers have already Stopped/ Minimized their shipments to Baluchistan territory. Truckers are also not willing to take load from our Plants for Baluchistan Territory. We are also compelled to stop shipments for Baluchistan area in view of the above situation.
The SoS reads as “You are requested to please take up the matter with relevant quarters to release above trucks/shipments ASAP”.
When NEWSMAN approached to the Fertilizer Manufacturers Association Advisory Council Executive Director , Brig (Retd) Sher Shah , confirmed the development . He said “it’s important to strike a balance between supporting the anti-smuggling campaign and ensuring the smooth flow of fertilizers to Baluchistan, which directly impacts the livelihoods of the farmers”.. He added that to achieve this, it’s crucial that vehicles compliant with government legal documents are not stopped unnecessarily, and detained vehicles should be promptly released after verification. This approach ensures the effectiveness of the anti-smuggling efforts while minimizing disruption to the essential supply chain that sustains the Baluchistan region’s agricultural sector.