August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

MIRPURKHAS, Aug 8: At least 56 bonded labourers were rescued when police raided a brick kiln on the directives of the Umerkot district and sessions judge on Friday.

The raid was conducted on the brick kiln of Jamal Pathan located on the Kunri road and freed the 56 labourers who were allegedly detained in private prison.Umerkot police produced 56 labourers, including 26 children and 16 women in the district and sessions court which ordered their freedom.

Kirshan, Soomri, Muradi, Reshma and others told journalists that their 13 families had been working at the brick kiln of Jamal Pathan for the last one year where their free movement was restricted, they were not given proper food or medical treatment when they fell ill.

MINISTER: Provincial minister for industries Rauf Siddiqui has said that priority was being given to providing more facilities in industrial zones so that investors could set up industrial units to end the unemployment in the province.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the minister said that the country can earn foreign exchange by exporting Sindhi cap and Ajrak and stressed the need of proper attention and promotion for installation of such units with modern technology.

He said that cottage and small industries were being given more facilities as Mirpurkhas industrial zone was deprived of gas connection but today this industrial zone will get this facility on the expenses of Sindh small industries corporation.

He said that measures were being taken to promote small and cottage industries in Mirpurkhas, Hala, Mithi, Kashmore, Khairpur and other areas to mitigate unemployment. He said that he invited the investors of Saudi Arabia for installing units here and offered them relief in taxes.

He asked the people to set-up units of juices of tomatoes, mango packaging, dates processing plants, handicrafts etc. after purchasing the plots in the industrial zones.

He said that local people would be recruited in the industries and said that Rs2 million would be spent on the construction of link roads and other work in Mirpurkhas industrial zone. He said that workshops would be held for training of skilful persons.On this occasion, MQM MPA Faheem Altafi, district naib nazim Mirpurkhas Zafar Ahmed Kamali and taluka nazim Mirpurkhas Ghulam Dastagir Khan were also present. Later, the minister inaugurated the gas supply to the industrial zone.

RALLY: Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan activists took out a rally here on Friday to protest against price hike.

The protesters were led by Mohammad Anis Khan and Maqsood Ahmed. They carried banners and placards and marched on main roads and raised slogans against price hike.