12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 11: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has said the elimination of disparity between the rural and urban societies and facilitating the people of all the areas of the province without any discrimination was the top priority of the coalition government.

Talking to PPI, he said measures were being taken to ensure the continuation of President Gen Pervez Musharraf's reforms programme for the elimination of poverty. He said the government had identified the areas and causes of poverty and reforms were being introduced to address those. He said the rural areas needed more attention in this regard.

He said the standard of living of people in the rural areas could improve with the development of agriculture. The government had initiated comprehensive programmes in the irrigation and agriculture sectors, he said.

The governor said projects costing billions of rupees had been initiated to restructure the obsolete irrigation system and farmers' associations were being formed to ensure their participation in the management of the irrigation system.

He said awareness was being created among growers regarding increase in productivity, introduction of modern agriculture equipment and strengthening of canals and water courses. -PPI