ANFO of Shijiazhuang, China, on 16 March 2001. A total of 108 people were killed, and 38 others injured when, within a short time, several ANFO bombs exploded near four apartment buildings. Improvised bombs made with agricultural-grade AN are less sensitive and less efficient than the explosive-grade variety. In November 2009, a ban on ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizers was imposed in the former Malakand Division – comprising the Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Chitral and Malakand districts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan – by the NWFP government, following reports that those chemicals
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers of Chemicals & Fertilisers came into existence in September, 1982 headed by a Cabinet Minister who is assisted by Minister of State. It was part of the Ministry of Agriculture till 1984. In June, 1991, it become part of newly created Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers. Department of Fertilizers came into existence as a separate Department in September, 1985 consequent upon the bifurcation of the then Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. Thereafter, this Department was brought under the ambit of Ministry of Agriculture for a short duration. However, the earlier position was restored in 1992. The main activities of the