FAZAL SHER
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R), Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Tuesday said that the government was considering proposals to provide subsidies of Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 per bag of fertilizer to facilitate farmers.
Hussain said this while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met here under the chairmanship of MNA Syed Hussain Tariq.
The Minister said that Punjab government was considering a subsidy of Rs3,000 per bag, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had decided to provide an in-kind subsidy of Rs5,000 per bag.
Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government was taking different measures to resolve issues relating to fertilizer availability and prices.
The parliamentary body appreciated the recent import of 50,000 tons of DAP fertilizer for the Rabi season 2026-27. The committee recommended that the matter of regulatory duty and General Sales Tax (GST) on fertilizer imports be taken up with the concerned ministry so that facilitation is provided at the import stage in order to lower down the fertilizer price.
The committee also welcomed the record wheat sowing for Rabi 2026-27 and the announcement of wheat support price of Rs 4,500 per 40 kg for the wheat crop 2026-27.
The official of MNFS&R informed the committee that rice production has increased by eight percent.
Tariq directed the MNFS&R to facilitate farmers at all costs. He urged for standardized subsidy model across all provinces and a uniform fertilizer price across the country.
The committee considered the exemption of regulatory duty on imported grandparent and parent stock of chicks, which are explicitly excluded under PCT codes 0105.1100 and 0105.9400, and the need to resolve the ambiguity arising from duplicate entries in S.R.O. 1064(I)/2026.
The official further told the committee that the matter was placed before the Tariff Policy Board at its 15th meeting held in October 2026 at the Ministry of Commerce. The Board unanimously decided to refer the matter to the Federal Cabinet for consideration and approval. The Committee decided to invite the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to its next meeting for further consideration of this agenda item.
The Committee passed “The Seed (Amendment) Bill, 2026”, with some amendments and recommended the National Assembly to pass the Bill with the amendments as proposed by the Committee.
MNAs Nadeem Abbass, Abdul Qadir Khan, Shumaila Rana, Nazir Ahmed Bhugio, Syed Abrar Ali Shah, Syed AyazSherazi,SyedJaved Ali Shah Jillani, Usman Ali, MNA, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and senior officials of MNFS&R also attended the meeting.
