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SUKKUR, Jan 6: Federal Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Yar Mohammad Rind will preside over the first meeting of the newly-formed Pakistan Agriculture Advisory Board in Islamabad on Jan 8.
Talking to journalists here on Tuesday, he said the board comprised 17 official members, including renowned agriculture scientists, and 19 private sector members.
He said the board would discuss efforts made by the agriculture department to increase agriculture produce and manage water resources. He said the government had taken steps to improve the quality of crops, make sufficient seed and fertilizers available and bring maximum area under cultivation.
The minister said banks had also been asked to provide loans to people connected with the farm sector. He referred to the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited which had been given the task to provide Rs40 billion loans for the agriculture sector.
He said the PAAB meeting would also discuss the recent damages to cotton and banana crops in the interior of Sindh and some parts of southern Punjab. A decision regarding giving subsidy to affected farmers would also be taken at the meeting, he added.
Mr Rind said there were five representatives from Sindh, three from the NWFP, eight from Punjab and three from Balochistan in the board, besides agriculture scientists.
About the World Trade Organization, the minister stressed the need for improving the farm sector to meet the challenges of the WTO regime, which was likely to be enforced from 2005. He said the board would also consider the WTO challenges.
WATER SHORTAGE: Due to the canal closure from Jan 6 to 20, normal water supply to Sukkur, particularly to New Pind, Golimar, Microwave Colony, Qureshi Goth and old city areas, will be uncertain.
This was announced by Sukkur Taluka Nazim Syed Kazim Shah here on Tuesday. He advised the residents to be cautious of the situation, store water and use it economically.
URS: The 135th annual Urs of Hazrat Qadir Bakhsh Bedil is being celebrated in a befitting manner at the Sufi poet's last resting place in Rohri from Jan 7 to 9.
The inaugural ceremony would be performed by District Nazim Syed Nasir Hussain Shah by laying a Chaddar on the mausoleum of the Sufi saint on Jan 7 to be followed by a Mehfil-i-Sama.
On Jan 8, a literary conference and Mushaira would be organized at the Bedil Bekus Auditorium, Rohri. A grand musical concert would also be part of the Urs celebrations on Jan 9 at the same venue.
