HYDERABAD, Feb 22: The Sindh Abadgar Board has expressed concern over reduction in fertilizer quota of Sindh. It also criticized non-availability of fertilizers and their black-marketing.

In a communication addressed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, with copies to federal ministers for agriculture, food and livestock, and industries and production, as well as the Sindh chief minister, SAB president Abdul Majeed Nizamani said Sindh's share in the country's agriculture was 25 per cent but the federal government had fixed 23 per cent fertilizer share for the province, which was being supplied by the National Fertilizer Marketing Limited (NFML).

He said only 11 per cent of urea, 11 per cent of Can and 11 per cent of nitrogen phosphate were being provided to Sindh. He complained that the NFML had totally stopped supply of urea since January.

Mr Nizamani said there was a great unrest among farmers about the acute shortage of fertilizers and the consequent black-marketing of the input at a crucial time.

Quoting black-market rates, he said urea was being sold at Rs515 per bag against the official rate of Rs460, nitrogen phosphate was being sold at Rs725 against the fixed rate of Rs590, ammonium nitrate was available at Rs350 against the official rate of Rs228 and DAP at Rs1,000 against the official rate of Rs970. He appealed to the prime minister and ministers concerned to take notice of the situation and restore supply of fertilizers at the fixed rates.

NOC SUSPENDED: The DCO of Jamshoro on Monday suspended a no-objection certificate issued to one Din Mohammad Soomro by the Dadu DCO for setting up a filling and CNG station following objections by the University of Sindh that the land leased out to Mr Soomro was the property of the university.