HYDERABAD, July 13: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has directed officials concerned to invite tenders for renovation and beautification of the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai within one month.

During his visit to the shrine on Tuesday, he said utilization of Rs25 million, approved for the purpose, should be ensured. The chief minister said services of a seasoned consultant should be hired to ensure quality of work. Talking to journalists on the occasion, he said Shah Latif was a universal poet and he had given new dimensions to the Sindhi language.

Commenting on a statement of the leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly and president of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Sindh, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, about the by-election in the Tharparkar constituency, he said the NA-229 seat belonged to people of Thar and no outsider had any right to give statements in this regard.

He said the seat had been vacated for Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz to ensure development of the area. When his attention was drawn to the Karar Lake which is lying dry, the chief minister directed officials concerned to release water into the lake immediately.

He said it was due to efforts of his government that water was being provided to growers judiciously, adding that water was available in all canals and channels in the province.

Dr Rahim said he was determined to ensure water supply to growers right up to tail-ends of canals. He hoped that a good produce would be obtained in the wake of improved water situation.

On a proposal from a local journalist, the chief minister announced establishment of a degree college in the area. Earlier, he laid a floral wreath on the shrine of Shah Latif and offered Fateha.

He also laid a floral wreath and offered Fateha at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Habib and heard Raag for some time. Dr Rahim was presented an Ajrak and a traditional cap by the chief administrator, Auqaf, Khawar Noor Shaikh, on behalf of his department.