KHAIRPUR: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday inaugurated the ‘7th International Annual Khairpur Date Exhibition and Seminar 2015’ organised jointly by the Khairpur district administration, the Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI) and the Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu) on Saturday.

Speaking as the chief guest, Mr Shah appreciated the organisers’ efforts towards regularly holding the annual event with the aim of promoting date which, he said, was a priced commodity in high demand in the international market. He noted that date was a major crop of Khairpur district and the Salu administration was contributing greatly to its cultivation and exports by organising such events in collaboration with the DPRI.

The chief minister was of the view that the export of Khairpur’s date could get a boost if its packing was improved.

He also lauded Salu vice chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah’s efforts for the promotion of academic and research culture at her institution.

Salu VC Prof Dr Shah in her speech highlighted her institution’s academic progress and pace of development projects.

Iranian Consul General Mehdi Subhani, Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar and former MNA Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani were prominent among those who attended the ceremony.

Later, the chief minister inaugurated the new buildings for the faculty of management sciences and DPRI, constructed at a cost of Rs112 million and Rs38.5 million respectively. He also laid the foundation of Salu Housing Society and announced a grant of Rs3 billion for the scheme.

Sukkur Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Munawwar Ali Mithiani DPRI Director Prof Dr Ghulam Sarwar Markhand also spoke.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2015

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