HYDERABAD, July 21: The Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) has expressed concern over the levy of 18 per cent GST on agricultural produce and increase in diesel prices, power tariff and transport charges.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the SAB president, Abdul Majeed Nizamani, said due to the shortage of irrigation water, the growth rate of agriculture produce in Sindh had come down from 6.5 per cent to 1.8 per cent and the production of sugarcane, cotton, rice and wheat had decreased by 31 per cent, 24 per cent, 46 per cent and over 25 per cent respectively.

He said under these circumstances, Wapda had no right to increase power tariff by 40 per cent. He said this would have a telling affect on agriculture, industrial sectors and even the domestic consumers.

Mr Nizamani claimed that Wapda’s tariff was even more than what was being charged in America and many European countries.

He said Wapda should be directed to withdraw the increase in the tariff and fix Rs3 per unit as the maximum rate otherwise the economy of the country, especially agrarian economy, would be destroyed.

SU ADMISSIONS: The director admissions, University of Sindh, announced on Saturday that last date to submit admission forms for MSc (previous), Criminology, had been fixed as Aug 10.