KARACHI, May 7: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Sunday said that more funds would be allocated in the next provincial budget for the modernization of agriculture sector.

Speaking at a briefing given to him on the state of agriculture sector here at the CM’s House, he asked the agriculture department to provide maximum information to growers about seed, fertiliser and modern farm technology, such as the drip irrigation system.

He said that another modern vegetable market (Sabzi Mandi) would be set up in Karachi on the National Highway. It would also have the cold storage facility, he added.

The chief minister said that cold storage facility on a 16-acre land would be established in Tando Allahyar and another one near Shahpur Jehaniyan on the National Highway.

He pointed out that Gulf states were the best markets for Pakistani fruits. The export volume of fruits could be increased by preserving the commodity in cold storage, he added.

Dr Arbab directed the agriculture department to submit to him a report about those field assistants who did not visit fields of their assigned areas so that appropriate action against them could be taken.

He also asked for the early completion of the schemes for the lining of water courses in the province, besides promoting the drip irrigation system.

He called upon media to play its due role in creating awareness in growers in the province Sindh. Wall-chalking also could be used as a mean for the purpose, he suggested.

The chief minister said more export processing zones would be set up in Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Naushehro Feroz and Khairpur with view to ensure an increase in exports.

He asked the Sindh Seed Corporation to continue research on seeds and introduce new varieties.

Regarding the new Sabzi Mandi in Karachi, he noted that the past governments had increased the number of shops at the mandi to 4,000 as against its capacity of 400 modern shops. He constituted a committee for allotment of the remaining shops in the mandi on merit basis. The committee comprises Kishan Chand Parwani, Nazar Mohammad Leghari, Mohammad Siddique Memon and Abdul Hakim Baloch.

It would put forward its recommendations to the ministry concerned after going through the applications already submitted.

On the occasion, strict legal action against those involved in the allotment of shops at the mandi to undeserving parties was recommended.

CATTLE COLONIES: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has directed the authorities concerned to identify locations for establishment of cattle colonies in 26 cities in the province where facilities of sweet water, fodder and roads were available.