MIRPURKHAS, July 4: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has advised cotton growers to improve their produce with better picking skills. He was talking to cotton growers and owners of ginning factories, under a premium programme of cotton production free from pollution, on Monday in the circuit house.

He said that the Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts had been included this year in the premium programme so that growers could get reasonable price of cotton and production be increased.

Cotton ginners and growers could lead to maximum production with joint efforts, they said.

He expressed that under the programme in the district, two cotton factories would be monitored after selection and that additional Rs50 per maund of cotton crop would be given to the growers transporting quality cotton to factory.

A committee of cotton growers was formed led by Noor Ahmed Bhurgari, taluka nazim Kot Ghulam Mohammad, to supervise cotton quality and premium to be given to growers by ginners in districts Umerkot and Mirpurkhas.

He warned committee members that if they did not work properly, they would be put behind bar.

On some complaints, the chief minister directed Mirpurkhas DCO Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah to conduct an inquiry into allegations levelled against the deputy district officer agriculture.

Power outageS: Various areas connected with the city feeder of Hesco Mirpurkhas remained without power for four hours here on Tuesday in the sizzling heat.

Electricity wires of the city linking feeder were lying broken on the Umerkot Road outside the Ali Medicare Hospital, affecting power supply at 3pm to Khisakpura, Shahi Bazaar, Tourabad, Dholanabad, Adam town, Sir Syed road, Khad Plot, Gharibabad, Lalchandabad, Muslimabad, Islamabad, Jamnadas colony, Baloch Para, New town, Khari Quarter and Nat Para.

However, the supply was at 7pm.