Balochistan conditionally lifts urea fertiliser ban in 17 more districts

Balochistan has allowed urea sales in 17 more districts, taking the number covered by the conditional relaxation to 19. Profit by Pakistan Today reported that the Agriculture Department issued the decision on Monday after farmers protested restrictions introduced in August. The newly included areas range from Hub and Quetta to Panjgur, while Nasirabad and Lasbela were already covered.

Dealers can sell urea only under monitoring and approved procedures, and must keep detailed records of transactions with farmers. Officials from the Agriculture Department, district administrations and law enforcement have been assigned to track stocks and transport, with breaches to be reported; dealers could lose their licences for violations. The original restrictions were imposed over concerns that fertiliser might be diverted for making explosive devices, and had interrupted farming activity in parts of the province.