HYDERABAD, Oct 4: The Sindh minister for agriculture, food and forests, Hassan Ali Chaniho, has said that a digital telephone exchange will start functioning in Khipro by the end of this year.

A new grid station has been approved to provide electricity to Khipro, he said, while speaking at an open kutchery at the Khipro Rest House here on Wednesday in connection with a public outreach programme.

Hesco chief executive Brig Mohammad Ali, agriculture secretary Abdur Rasheed Memon and forests secretary Shamsul Haq Memon were also attended the kutchery.

By the end of December, the non-digital exchange system in Khipro would be replaced with the digital exchange system to connect Khipro directly with the rest of the country.

Replying to public complaints about the inequitable distribution of irrigation water, he warned the officials of the department to ensure water supply to the tail-enders and stop harassment of small farmers.

He warned that if equitable distribution of water to all the farmers was not ensured, he would submit a report to the Sindh governor in his capacity as the chairman of the water management committee and recommend exemplary punishment for delinquent officers.

The minister directed irrigation officials to furnish copies of the water rotation schedule to the farmers’ organizations concerned, the tehsil Nazim and the local administration to keep them informed about the rotation programme.