The
fertilizer industry in Pakistan has flourished and grown due to
forward looking vision of the producers. The GoP has all along
supported the industry to achieve self-sufficiency in food and
accelerate GDP growth rate. There seems to be only two crucial
factors: gas price and duty rate on plant and machinery. The delay in
announcing new fertilizer policy is not allowing the sponsors to make
fresh investment and privatization of Saudi Pak Fertilizer is being
delayed. Cover Story explores the reasons for delay, resistance
against subsidy on gas and the impact of delay in expansion and
privatization.
WATER
SHORTAGE
The
acute water shortage is feared to take a heavy toll on agriculture
sector of the country, particularly in the arid Sindh. With the start
of Kharif, summer crop season, the shortage would result in the
delayed sowing of Cotton in an economy which is heavily cotton-driven.
The low water availability will also result in delayed sowing of Rice,
another important cash crop.
POWER
BREAK-DOWN
On
one hand, WAPDA & KESC always demand for increase in electricity
charges, the quality of power supply continue to worsen. The captive
consumers however have no option but to suffer the hardships due to
breakdowns and load shedding and pay more on the other hand, what a
funny situation.
VENTURE
CAPITAL FOR IT
Dr.
Ishrat Hussain, Governor SBP, feels that without availability of
adequate venture capital it may be difficult to achieve targeted
growth of IT industry. International investors having enough funds
should be attracted to provide venture capital for IT projects in
Pakistan.
