The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday severely criticised the ruling coalition over the absence of Industries Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi from the National Assembly session as he was to respond to queries related to the shortage of urea fertilizer, with PML-N MNA Rana Tanveer levelling corruption charges against Elahi.
The calling attention notice regarding the unavailability of urea fertilizer and high price was on the agenda item but was deferred due to the absence of the minister concerned. Speaking on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan said the prime minister had already assured the House that the minister would come to respond to the queries about shortage of urea and other related matters.
Demanding the chairman’s ruling on it, Nisar said the issue had already been brought in the House but the minister for industries was not present. He also held the industries minister responsible for the shortage, alleging that thousands of urea bags were being distributed among the MNAs and MPAs of the PML-Q in Punjab. “Around 80 percent fake permits were given in Gujrat,” he said. In the response to the queries of the PML-N on the issue, Chief Whip and Minister for Religious Affairs Khursheed Shah informed the House that the total consumption of urea in the country was 18 million tonnes.
