MIRPURKHAS: The three-day 52nd National Annual Mango and Summer Fruits Festival-2017 was inaugurated by Sindh Minister for Agriculture Sohail Anwar Siyal in the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto exhibition hall here on Friday evening.

Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony, the minister termed the Sindhri mango variety ‘pride of Pakistan’ and said that the provincial government was doing its best to increase its production as it was the prized mango variety in the international market.

He said other mango and fruit varieties produced by Sindh were also much in demand within the country and abroad.

The minister said that agriculture was the backbone of the national economy and, as such, the provincial government was spending heavily in promoting this sector. A hefty amount was allocated to the agriculture sector in the budget and great incentives were offered to growers as they played a vital role in the country’s progress, he said.

He said that the PPP government was making all out efforts to improve the lot of the common people and bring prosperity in the province. These efforts were aimed at bringing about a ‘green revolution’ in Sindh and the country, he said.

“Mango is the king of fruits,” he observed, and held out the assurance that no effort would be spared to give a boost to its production and quality.

He appreciated the organisers for holding the festival every year and said the event must continue to be held regularly. Such festivals would be organised at national level. He suggested that such exhibitions be held at the Karachi Expo Centre on a larger scale as well.

Speaking to the media, he said that an inquiry would be held into the recent chopping of mango and other fruit trees on the premises of the Sindh Agriculture Research Institute, Mirpurkhas, and anyone found responsible would be taken to task.

Earlier, Mr Siyal went round various stalls at the exhibition hall and took keen interest in the varieties of different mango and other fruits displayed by growers, who came from across Sindh.

Mirpurkhas Comm­issioner Shafique Ahmed Mahesar briefed the minister about the mango varieties put on display. He said growers had brought over 150 varieties of mango to the exhibition. The exhibitors came from Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Tando Allahyar and other areas of Sindh.

The festival management committee chairman, Moha­mmed Umer Bughio, in his speech highlighted the issues relating to farm production as well as the problems being faced by growers. He also pinpointed the impediments to the holding of such a festival on national level.

Former MNA Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Mirpurkhas district council chairman Mir Anwer Ali Khan Talpur, Agriculture Secretary Sajid Jamal Abro and Deputy Commissioner Zahid Hussain Memon were prominent among those who attended the festival.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2017