Pakistan eyes Central Asian fertilizer as Gulf supply chains stall

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to secure alternative fertilizer imports from Central Asia and fast-track new domestic production facilities. The move aims to protect Pakistan’s agricultural sector and food security from potential supply shocks caused by ongoing tensions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for Gulf urea and ammonia exports.

Chairing a high-level meeting on food security, PM Sharif emphasized the need for uninterrupted fertilizer availability as the country transitions from the winter Rabi harvest to the Kharif sowing season. While officials confirmed that current fertilizer stocks are stable and domestic plants are receiving steady natural gas supplies, the government is taking proactive measures to counter regional volatility.

In addition to diversifying imports, the Prime Minister ordered a strict crackdown on hoarding and artificial shortages. This directive follows warnings from Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain regarding high domestic costs, potential smuggling risks driven by price gaps with international markets, and the lingering threat that regional tensions pose to local pricing.