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Ground-breaking of AFC held

RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: The foundation stone of Al-Meezan Fertilizer Company (AFC) was laid down here on Sunday.

Khateeb of Haram Sharif Makkah, Moulana Mohammad Mukki inaugurated the ground-breaking ceremony of Al-Meezan Fertilizer Company (AFC). The factory spread over an area of 10 acres on Multan-Khanewal Road and will start functioning in September, 2000.

AFC is a project of Rs. 300 million and its whole machinery will be manufactured locally. AFC is likely to produce single super phosphate (SSP) 132,000 tonnes annual.

Of raw material, sources said, only 60,000 tonnes of rock phosphate will be imported, while the remaining raw material to be used in SSP production is locally available. It is claimed that AFC will produce 5 percent of the SSP demand in the country.

AFC's chief executive said due to insufficient supply of SSP the country was spending huge foreign exchange on its import, which, consequently had raised its prices in the local market.

He hoped that projects like AFC would prove a landmark in achieving self-sufficiency in fertilizer production which would help increase agriculture production.

Commissioner Agriculture Development, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal), Dr. Mohammad Haneef was also present on the occasion.