MITHI, July 5 Poets, writers and intellectuals of Thar have urged the prime minister and the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation authorities to sanction an AM/MW radio station of 300Khz in Tharparkar.

In a joint statement, poet Saindad Saand, columnist Doulatram Khatri, vocalist Sadiq Faqir, writer Arbab Nek Mohammad and others, said that there are limited sources of communication and entertainment in the region and the low power FM radio Mithi is unable to cater to the needs of a population of one million. They said the programmes aired by FM radio Mithi are hardly heard in half of Tharparkar district.

They said that despite being a backward area, Thar is rich in culture and music and legends such as Umer Marvi, Moomal Rano, Sadvant Saranga and freedom fighter Rooplo Kolhi.

They said that Thar also gave birth to vocalists Mai Bhagi, Fozia Soomro, Murad Faqir, Budho Faqir, Mohan Bhagat and Sadiq Faqir. The folk songs and kaafis sung by these singers are heard and liked by people, they said.

LG SYSTEM The speakers at a workshop on “Improvement in local government system,” organised at a local hotel under the aegis of the Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment have advised the government that instead of abolishing the local government system, its lacunas should be cleared and this system should be continued with some required befitting changes.

The speakers at the workshop said that the local government system has created considerable awareness among the people to identify development projects and to get them completed in their areas besides waging struggle for the solution of their genuine problems.