HYDERABAD, Jan 1: Sindh Culture Secretary Shams Jafrani has said that the provincial culture department has planned to celebrate the 265th three-day Urs of the great saint and poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, in a befitting manner and to convert it into a cultural, literary and a result-oriented event by introducing new changes to the scheduled proceedings.

He was speaking at a meeting at the Bhit Shah rest house on Thursday to review the arrangements for the Urs.

Mr Jafrani said that DCO Matiari Baqaullah Unnar would be the focal person and coordinator for the Urs celebrations and asked the representatives of the provincial and district government departments of district Matiari to submit their proposals to DCO Matiari.

He said that the present government had decided to introduce some new activities for the promotion of cultural and historical heritage of Sindh along with the universal message of the great saint poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

He said that keeping in view the previous experience, his department had decided to organise a National Adabi Conference, which would be attended by local and international scholars. He said that four new books including translation of Shah-Jo-Risalo in the Arabic language would be brought out during the coming Urs celebrations.

He said that a cultural village would also be established at Bhit Shah where artisans of Sindh would be shown at their work to display their art for the visitors, besides, certain stalls would also be set up where in addition to handicrafts; traditional food would be made available to the visitors.

The secretary culture asked the provincial agriculture department to arrange agriculture exhibition on a national level in which each province should be invited to put up at least one stall and added that this would provide a platform to growers of all provinces to exchange agricultural knowledge.

He also asked the provincial health department to declare emergency at all hospitals and to ensure availability of all life- saving drugs at each hospital of the Matiari district. He said that mobile medical units should also be arranged.

He advised the local management of the irrigation department to fill the historical Karar Lake with fresh water before the commencement of the Urs. He directed the works and services department to repair roads of Bhit Shah and the management of T&T and Hesco to ensure uninterrupted services during the Urs celebrations.

He asked the forest department for providing flower pots and to arrange greenbelt especially on the National Highway Bhit Shah link road.

He said that it would be the first time in the history that the three-day proceedings of the Urs would be aired live through FM Radio Bhit Shah and through the local cable network. He directed DPO Matiari to ensure foolproof security measures.

He said that proper arrangements for temporary sheds, supply of drinking water, medical aid, and efficient drainage with lavatory facilities were also being made for devotees.

He said that a combined complaint centre comprising representatives of all departments and civic agencies would be established.