June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, June 9: The resource-rich and fertile land of Sindh needs to be utilised to gain maximum benefit from it, said Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at the National Mango and Fruits Festival.

He was the chief guest at prize distribution ceremony of the 43rd annual National Mango and Summer Fruits Festival at the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute on Sunday. The festival was aimed at promoting production of mango and other fruits, he said and expressed amazement over witnessing 100 mango varieties at one place for the first time.

Qaim Ali Shah said people of Mirpurkhas were quite intelligent but their ability was not exploited wholly. He told the growers to get in touch with the Agriculture Department and avail facilities for promotion of mango export.

“Pakistan has good mango market and with the help of the government farmers can cash the opportunity at the maximum,” he said.

He said per acre wheat yield in the province this year was more than that of Punjab, therefore, the Sindh Seed Corporation should provide seeds to increase per acre yield of crops.

He distributed shields and prizes among growers with Ajay Kumar securing first, Seth Khoobchand second, and Syed Shuja Shah third position in A-Category; Syed Ali Gohar Shah first, Choudhry Mukhtiar second and Allah Bachayo Rajar third position in B-Category; and Haji Mohammad Lashari first, Sardar Ali Khan Lashari second and Wali Mohammad Dhikshat third position in C-Category. He visited stalls of mangoes and other summer fruits.

Later, while speaking at a public meeting in Mirwah Gorchani, Mr Shah said the government’s top priority was to provide relief to masses and directed the irrigation officers to stop water theft and ensure its availability at tail-end of different canals.

He said some 17,000 cusecs water was available in Nara canal hence there was no reason to continue rotation programme in its command area.

The CM said that the country was facing economic problem and lawlessness due to wrong policies of the previous government. He said jobs will be provided to youth on merit after the budget.

He said changes will also be made in the limits of talukas created by the previous government to cause loss to the PPP.

The chief minister announced to establish two degree colleges, one for boys and the other for girls in Mirwah Gorchani along with the provision of gas to the town.