KHAIRPUR, Jan 30: The annual grant of Rs200,000 approved by the Sindh Culture and Tourism Department for the 186th annual Urs of great Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast, which had been in September 2007, has not been released yet, much to the frustration of Sachal Yadgar Committee.

The committee secretary Maula Bux Larik and member Mukhtiar Malik complained that they could not pay the bills for print materials, painters who painted banners, photographers, movie makers and other dues due to non-release of grant.

They wrote to the department but did not receive any positive response. The suppliers who made holding the annual Urs possible were worried about their dues, they said.

Renovation work at the shrine and Daraza Rest House had come to a standstill while Auqaf employees were protesting over not getting salaries on a regular basis, they said.—Correspondent