ISLAMABAD, July 21: The DAP fertiliser would be available at more than Rs5,000 per 50kg bag in a couple of months, said Manzoor Ahmed Khan Wattoo, the prime minister’s adviser on Industries and Production.

DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) is currently available at Rs3,400 per bag in the local market.

He was speaking at a news conference on his return from Morocco after attending Pakistan-Morocco Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting. He said the government was in talks with Morocco for import of DAP to contain rising prices and ensure product availability in the Rabi season.

Pakistan, he said, had asked the Moroccan authorities to supply 50,000 tons of DAP but they have agreed for 30,000 tons for the coming crops season.

He said the government was aware of the current increasing trend in the DAP prices but hoped the existing inventories in the country and imports from aboard would help maintain prices at the current level. This would be made possible through provision of subsidy and by building stocks to ensure maximum availability, he said

Responding to a question about the price of the commodity to be imported from Morocco, he said the issue was under negotiations but this would be lower than the current market price.

He said the two countries had also agreed to negotiate the possibility of setting up of a joint venture for the production of DAP fertiliser either in the public or private sector.