KHAIRPUR, Oct 29: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim inaugurated the 183rd annual Urs celebration of multi-lingual poet and Sufi saint Sachal Sarmast at his shrine in Daraza near here on Friday by laying a wreath on his tomb.

The chief minister also attended Mehfil-i-Sama in which Fuqra of the shrine led by Faqir Bhural Bhatti, Sanam Marooi and Nazar Faqir enthralled the audience by rendering poetry of Sachal Sarmast.

The chief minister announced Rs2 million grant for repair of the shrine. At the Sachal Awards ceremony, provincial minister for Religious Affairs and Auqaf Manzoor Panhwar presented awards to the Bhattis' Sufi singers' group, vocalist Sanam Marooi, research scholar Faqir Abdul Latif Sikanderi, poet Mir Sobhdar Saeed and Sughar Mohammad Soomar Channo.

Later, the chief minister went to Gambat where he inaugurated a post-surgery care unit at the taluka hospital, which has been set up at a cost of Rs6 million. He admitted that substandard medicines were being used in government hospitals and announced that well-knowned retired doctors would be reemployed.

He also announced to give nine basic health units and rural health centres under the administration of the taluka hospital and said that modern facilities would be provided to the hospital to make it a model health centre.

On this occasion, Khairpur District Nazim Nafisa Shah met the chief minister and requested him for the construction of a bridge over the River Indus to connect Larkana and Khairpur districts.