HYDERABAD, March 28: The annual literary conference on the occasion of Urs of Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai will be held in Bhit Shah. This was decided at a meeting held at the district Nazim secretariat here on Saturday , that discussed arrangements for the 260th Urs celebrations of Shah Latif

The meeting also decided to hold a three-day musical concert, present 60 Latif Awards to artistes, hold a Malakhra (local wrestling) for four days during the Urs and provide transport and boarding facilities to artistes, writers and poets.

District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, who presided over the meeting, constituted a six-member committee to ensure proper arrangements for the Urs, to be held from April 5 to 7.

He directed the culture department to complete repair and renovation works at the shrine in three days and ensure that the Karar Lake was neat and clean and filled with water and its fountain was functional.

He asked the culture department to make available Urdu, English and Punjabi translations of "Shah jo Risalo" (anthology of the greatest poet of Sindhi language, Shah Latif) at its book stall in Bhit Shah.

The Nazim announced Rs200,000 grant for the Urs celebrations and said out of the amount Rs15,000 each would be given to artists. He also announced that 15 deserving artists would be awarded Rs5,000 each by the district government.

He urged the Hesco authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Bhit Shah during the Urs. Endorsing a proposal of the DPO, the Nazim directed suspension of toll tax collection on the main road of Bhit Shah during the Urs.

Mr Rafiquzzaman said Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad would inaugurate the Urs while its concluding session would be presided over by Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar.

DPO A. D. Khwaja told the meeting that 800 to 1,000 policemen would monitor security measures in Bhit Shah where 10 close-circuit cameras would also be installed to prevent any untoward incident.