Islamabad: The licensing epic about the manufacture of fertilizers in Punjab with snow was in a legal battle, which prompted the main industrial players to request residency orders from the courts, which now prompted urgent action from the government.
The conflict tracks nearly three years, when the Punjab government has made it mandatory for fertilizer manufacturers to obtain licenses either from the Ministry of Regional Agriculture or from the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the federal body responsible for guaranteeing the product standards. Failure to comply, the authorities warned at that time, that would lead to the closure of industrial units and criminal cases, including First, presented against owners.
According to the sources of industry, many of the leading fertilizers companies have secured accommodations from the courts to avoid licensing requirements, while young manufacturers were left widely struggling. Opinioners say the burden of cost and compliance to meet the criteria of Punjab’s license has become a big obstacle, while the federal licensing process through PSQCA, although it is less expensive, includes much longer waiting times.
As a result, the licensing conflict in Punjab continued for about three years, as the pending of multiple cases continued in the courts.
In a major development, the Lahore Supreme Court recently directed the Punjab government, PSQCA representatives, and industrial representatives to sit together and find a solution to retire.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and Technology (most of them) intervened, and directed PSQCA to collect and provide detailed information on all cases pending in courts related to the agricultural, fertilizer and crop sectors. The directive was issued after a letter from the Assistant Prosecutor, the Lahore Court, and the Public Prosecution Council, regarding the case of the Chemical Traders Association in Pakistan in exchange for the government of Pakistan and others. The last time was listened to April 22, 2025, when the court ordered the two respondents 1 and 4 to submit a written report and Parawise’s comments within one week.
According to the official communication from the ministry, the matter was accurately discussed on May 8 with the Minister of Science and Technology. PSQCA has now been assigned to provide:
- A complete list of pending court cases related to the sectors of agriculture, fertilizers and crops, in addition to their current situation;
- A comprehensive summary defines the background, relevant legal provisions, and the proposed method to move forward;
- An officer who is familiar with agricultural messages and crops to visit most of the offices with the required documents;
- Copies of Parawise’s comments already presented in the courts.
The ministry confirmed that the required details are provided by tomorrow, which confirms the urgency of the matter due to the final dates imposed by the court.
Copies of guidance were sent to the Secretary, the Director (Legal), and Vice Director (Legal) of PSQCA in Karachi and Lawer, as well as Incharge to the Multan office in PSQCA. The officials concerned with the Ministry of Science and Technology, including the secretary, the additional secretary, and the joint technological advisor, were also informed.
The ministry confirmed that the issue is dealt with as a maximum priority to ensure compliance with the orders of the court.
