Balochistan Urea Ban Lifted in 17 More Districts

The Balochistan urea ban has been lifted in 17 more districts, easing a restriction that left farmers struggling through the sowing season.

The notification was issued on Monday evening by the Agriculture Department’s director general of extension. It allows conditional urea sales in Hub, Jaffarabad, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Jhal Magsi, Dera Bugti, Barkhan, Sibi, Kachhi, Khuzdar, Kharan, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Quetta, Pishin, Kalat and Panjgur.

The relaxation had already been extended to Nasirabad and Lasbela, taking the total to 19 districts where farmers can now buy urea under the new rules.

Balochistan urea ban was imposed over explosives fears

The ban was imposed in August over concerns that urea fertiliser could be diverted for use in explosive devices by anti-state elements. It caused severe difficulties for farmers and sparked protests in some areas of the province.

Urea sits at the centre of a hard trade-off. It is one of the most widely used fertilisers in Pakistan, and farmers need it at sowing time. It can also be used to make explosives, which is why the province moved to control it.

Farmers’ groups said the ban pushed them into the black market, with bags that normally sell for about Rs4,000 changing hands for Rs8,000 to Rs14,000 in some areas. The Zamindar Action Committee, which speaks for landowners, demanded an effective checking system instead of a blanket ban.

Digital sales tracking replaces the blanket ban

Under the new directives, fertiliser dealers must strictly follow prescribed standard operating procedures and maintain complete records of sales to farmers. Sales are logged through the province’s digital tracking system, and only registered farmers can buy.

The province has built the system around the Benazir Kissan Card, which registers farmers and ties subsidies to their record. Sales in the districts where the ban has been lifted go through the digital login, so every transaction leaves a trail.

“Sale and purchase of urea fertiliser without prescribed protocols is strictly prohibited, and no parallel system contrary to the newly prescribed protocol will be acceptable; rather, it will be considered illegal,” the official notification said.

Agriculture Department officers, deputy commissioners and law enforcement agencies will strictly monitor fertiliser stocks and their movement, reporting any violations at once. Dealers found violating the prescribed procedures will face strict action and have their licences cancelled.

What the lifting means for farmers

The timing matters. Farmers in the newly covered districts can now buy urea legally as the winter sowing season advances, instead of relying on informal sellers at inflated prices.

The change also tests whether digital tracking can do the job the ban could not. If dealers keep proper records and only registered farmers buy, the province can trace where each bag goes. If the system leaks, the security fears that drove the ban will return.

Balochistan’s politics have been tense in recent weeks. Political parties in the province have called a shutdown protest for November 19, and the urea decision lands in the middle of that strain.

Farming conditions elsewhere in the country show the same pressures. Climate change has brought early cotton sowing in Sindh, while Tharparkar was declared drought-hit as crops failed and a relief package for its farmers is being planned. Dawn reported the lifting of the ban.

Frequently asked questions

In how many districts has the urea ban been lifted?

The ban has been lifted in 17 more districts, taking the total to 19, after Nasirabad and Lasbela were covered earlier.

Why was urea banned in Balochistan?

The ban was imposed in August over concerns that urea fertiliser could be diverted by anti-state elements to make explosive devices.

How will urea sales be controlled now?

Dealers must follow prescribed procedures, keep complete sales records, and log transactions through the province’s digital system, with sales limited to registered farmers.

What happens to dealers who break the rules?

Dealers found violating the prescribed procedures will face strict action and have their licences cancelled.

Which districts are covered by the latest relaxation?

Hub, Jaffarabad, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Jhal Magsi, Dera Bugti, Barkhan, Sibi, Kachhi, Khuzdar, Kharan, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Quetta, Pishin, Kalat and Panjgur.