THATTA, Feb 16: Air safaris are being introduced in Sindh to promote tourism and provide greater access to the historic sites.

This was stated by the chief secretary Sindh K. B. Rind on Sunday at a reception arranged by the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation at the Keenjhar Lake.

These aerial excursions, he said, were being introduced in collaboration with the Star Air Aviation and the International Entertainment Services.

Mr Rind said that bookings for the Air Safaris would be managed by the STDC.

The service, he said, would be provided to the visitors of recreational and historical sites spread all over the province, including the Makli Necropolis, Gorakh Hill Station, Umerkot, Kot Diji, Ranikot and Keenjhar, Haleji and Manchhar Lakes.

Stressing on the need for more tree plantation and renovation of STDC huts, the chief secretary Sindh called for provision of better facilities to tourists in Sindh.

Earlier, the chief secretary reviewed arrangements for the prime minister’s visit on Feb 19 for APNS awards distribution ceremony, which has now been postponed.

Rifles snatched: Two coastguard personnel were overpowered by Jatt tribesmen and their rifles snatched in the coastal village of Jatt, near the Patyani Creek, in the wee hours of Saturday.

A raiding party of coastguards were tipped off about the presence of some accused in the Jatt village who were involved in smuggling foreign wine and other contraband items. So they raided the village which triggered a clash.

The villagers overpowered two of the coastguard personnel and snatched their official rifles. However, some influential people intervened and were soon able to normalize the situation.

This correspondent made several attempts to contact coastguard authorities at Chuhar Jamali and Gharo, where personnel on duty, without disclosing their identity, said that coastguards had raided the village.

However, they refused to say anything further saying that only Major Talat would be able to ascertain facts but he was out of station.