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KARACHI: A meeting of the Sindh government ministers and secretaries on Tuesday decided that agriculture demonstration zones would be established in the province with the assistance of China. The meeting, which was chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, reviewed progress related to major foreign-funded projects in the irrigation, agriculture, food and coal sectors.
Sindh Agriculture Secretary Agha Jan Akhtar informed the participants in the meeting that the China Academy of Agriculture and Mechanised Authority would initiate the project for the establishment of agriculture demonstration zones where research institution and agriculture-related industries would be established. He said the government had given assurance that land would soon be made available for the project. The location of the proposed zones was also discussed in the meeting.
The participants were further informed that a project related to a link canal from the Nara Canal, which had been envisaged with Chinese assistance, was also approved by the Central Development Working Party.
It was said that funds for the project were available.
Also, water storage schemes at Nai Baran and Nai Gaaj would be initiated to meet water requirement for cultivation. It was said that a Chinese company would extend a loan of 200 million dollars for the project.
The Chinese company and the Sindh government would have 51 and 49 per cent shares, respectively.
Thar coal The participants in the meeting were informed that power transmission lines were essential for early development of the Thar coal project whose board of directors would meet on Jan 21 to review the progress.
They were further told that of the eight blocks in the Thar coal area, six had been allotted to various companies while the remaining two would be allotted soon after certain formalities.
The chief minister said that President Asif Ali Zardari had directed that projects for public welfare should be initiated so that not only job opportunities for the unemployed youth were created and but also economic activities got a boost.
Food storage plants Storage plants for 5,000 tonnes of vegetables, particularly potatoes, would be established in all taluka headquarters, the participants in the meeting were informed.
It was said that land had been identified at more than 100 spots, where infrastructure was also available, for the scheme. A grant of $ 200 million would be available.
Sindh Food Secretary Naseer Ahmed Jamali informed the meeting that a grain storage scheme had been proposed for farmers.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Kamal Majeedullah, Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Sindh Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Raja Mohammad Abbas, Irrigation Secretary Khalid Haider Memon, Agriculture Secretary Agha Jan Akhtar, Food Secretary Naseer Ahmed Jamali, Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, Coal Secretary Younis Dagha, Secretary to the Chief Minister Alamuddin Bullo, Special Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Atta Muhammad Panhwar and others attended the meeting.
