QUETTA : The Government of Balochistan has imposed an immediate and indefinite ban on the sale, purchase, supply, and distribution of nitrogenous fertilizers across the province, a decisive step aimed at preventing their potential diversion for manufacturing explosive materials and curbing subversive activities.
The restriction was enforced through an official order issued by the Directorate General Agriculture (Extension), Balochistan. The suspension applies to all nitrogen-based fertilizers, including urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), ammonium nitrate, and potassium nitrate, with immediate effect. The ban will remain in force until further orders from the competent authority.
According to the directive, upon the conclusion of the restriction period, all relevant departments will be formally communicated regarding the future course of action in line with instructions from higher authorities. In the interim, the provincial government is tasked with formulating comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to effectively regulate the sale, purchase, supply, and distribution of these sensitive agricultural inputs moving forward.
Additionally, the order mandates that all dealers, distributors, and relevant entities maintain a complete and accurate record alongside a full inventory of all existing stocks of the restricted fertilizers. This measure is designed to ensure strict oversight and prevent any unauthorized diversion of materials during the ban period.
The decision underscores the government’s heightened focus on security protocols, recognizing the dual-use nature of nitrogenous compounds, which serve as essential agricultural nutrients but can also be exploited for nefarious purposes when in the wrong hands
