RAWALPINDI, Nov 15 (APP):The Agriculture Extension Department, Gujar Khan, has taken action against individuals involved in selling counterfeit fertilizers to farmers and has registered FIRs against several people. Assistant Director Agriculture Extension Gujar Khan, Abdul Rasheed Saqi, sent fertilizer samples collected from Punjab Khil Godown Daultala, Natha Mor, Abid Hussain, Warsi Mobile Shop Habib Chowk Qazian, Usama Khushnood Ali, Al-Maida Dairy Milk Shop Butt Market Islam Pura Jabbar, Muhammad Shahbaz …
Agriculture Department takes action against sale of fake fertilizers, several booked
RAWALPINDI, Nov 15 (APP):The Agriculture Extension Department, Gujar Khan, has taken action against individuals involved in selling counterfeit fertilizers to farmers and has registered FIRs against several people.
Assistant Director Agriculture Extension Gujar Khan, Abdul Rasheed Saqi, sent fertilizer samples collected from Punjab Khil Godown Daultala, Natha Mor, Abid Hussain, Warsi Mobile Shop Habib Chowk Qazian, Usama Khushnood Ali, Al-Maida Dairy Milk Shop Butt Market Islam Pura Jabbar, Muhammad Shahbaz Banaras and Sajjad Banaras to a laboratory for testing.
After laboratory reports confirmed that the samples were substandard and counterfeit, the Agriculture Department took immediate action and had FIRs registered against the individuals concerned.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Assistant Director Agriculture Extension Gujar Khan Abdul Rasheed Saqi said that no leniency would be shown to those involved in selling fake fertilizers. He said such elements not only damage farmers’ hard work and financial investments but also adversely affect the country’s agricultural production.
He warned that if the mafia involved in manufacturing and selling counterfeit fertilizers was not eliminated today, it could pose a major threat to country’s food security in the future. He added that the country could not afford to leave future generations with a Pakistan facing food shortages.
He made it clear that the illegal trade of counterfeit fertilizers would not be tolerated under any circumstances in Tehsil Gujar Khan and that legal action against those involved would continue.
He appealed to landowners, farmers and growers to purchase fertilizers only from authorized and registered fertilizer dealers. He advised them to avoid buying fertilizers from private residences or unrelated general shops and to always obtain a receipt when making a purchase.
He further urged citizens to immediately inform the Agriculture Department if they came across any incidents involving the sale or hoarding of counterfeit fertilizers so that timely action could be taken.
Abdul Rasheed Saqi added that the doors of Agriculture Department offices were open to every farmer. Field Assistants and Field Investigators were present in different areas of the tehsil, while he himself remained available in the field to guide farmers and resolve their problems.
He said that farmers could also contact the Agriculture Department through its designated WhatsApp numbers, where assistance was available 24 hours a day.
Senior Agriculture Officer Shahzad Mumtaz, Muhammad Nazir Hashmi (Field Investigator), Gul Zameer Ahmed (Field Investigator), Afzal Mahmood (Field Investigator, Daultala) and Ehtisham-ul-Haq were also present on the occasion.
The Agriculture Extension Department Gujar Khan reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the availability of quality agricultural inputs to farmers and continuing effective operations to prevent the sale and distribution of counterfeit fertilizers.
