LAHORE: Vowing to protect interests of all farmers of province, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that her government would ensure provision of fertilizers to farmers at all cost.

Chairing special meeting to review demand and supply of fertilizers in province, she made it clear that no negligence in stopping hoarding and smuggling of substance would be tolerated. “I will not tolerate exploitation of farmers,” Maryam said categorically. She was of view that foolproof system should be devised to ensure the supply of fertilizers to farmers. CM directed that there should be proper monitoring of supply of fertilizers from plant to dealers. Meeting expressed satisfaction that prices of fertilizers had come down. Meeting discussed recommendations made to amend Pesticides and Fertilizers Act. It was decided to set up special helpline for registration with Kissan Card Programme. It was informed that demand and production of fertilizers in Punjab stood at 6.5 million tonnes. Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Minister for Information Azma Bukhari, Minister for Agriculture Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain, MPA Sania Ashiq, Special Assistant to CM Rashid Nasrullah, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Secretary Finance Agriculture, Industry and concerned officials were present.