Provinces Refuse to Share Subsidy Burden, Forcing 5% Fertilizer Price Hike That May Further Fuel Pakistan's Soaring Food Inflation
• Provinces refuse to share Rs32bn subsidy burden for imported urea, leading to likely 5% fertilizer price hike
• Finance ministry declines to extend subsidy due to IMF program restrictions
• Prices of imported and local urea to be merged; extra costs passed to farmers
• Food inflation already at 30% year-over-year in December, could rise further
• Committee formed to engage urea manufacturers on implementing pricing decision