BHIT SHAH, Jan 21: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the idea of Sufism university conceived by President Asif Ali Zardari is the need of the hour to counter extremism.

Addressing awards distribution ceremony at the culture centre here on Thursday evening, he said that establishment of the university is all the more important in present days where people are confronted with issues of terrorism and extremism besides economic problems. He said that this university would help propagate Shah Latif's message at national and international level.

He said that establishment of sufi university is quite a difficult job but efforts would be made to set it up as soon as possible. “It will be a minor gift from us in honour of Shah Latif,” he said. He said that Shah Latif was a universal poet and he spoke loudly about humanity.

The PPP government is doing its level best to fulfill commitments of Benazir Bhutto with the jobless and masses.

He said that despite a media campaign against President Asif Ali Zardari, vested interests had failed to create misgivings in the minds of masses. “We will keep progressing regardless of mudslinging”, he said.

He assured jobless youth that the government would give jobs as much as possible as it is aware of their economic issues. He referred to government's programme of women empowerment under which land is being given to peasant women adding that the unemployed youths are trained and given degrees to seek jobs abroad.

He said that exploitation of Thar's coal deposits was the idea of Benazir Bhutto but successive government didn't pursue it on the ground that it had been identified by PPP leader.

He said that many investors are in the race to get work in Thar coal which requires investment of billions of dollars.

He said that Benazir Bhutto didn't bow before the dictator and even sacrificed her life. He said that her life is a lesson for the PPP and its workers, who would follow it. AWARDS' RECIPIENTS:

The chief minister presented awards to Sajjada Nasheen of Bhittai's shrine Syed Nisar Hussain Shah, Pir Bux Soomro (best singer in Shah Latif's tradition) Mohammad Hussain Kashif (best researcher) Mohammad Hassan (best musician), Sanam Marvi (best signer) Waryam Faqir (best Sughar) and Khurshid Bughio and Zulqarnain Shah of the Bhit Shah press club.

He announced Rs500,000 for those artists who have performed during three days of Urs celebrations and said that Rs10 million announced earlier for culture department would be released soon.