HYDERABAD, Feb 1: The director general of agriculture research and extension, Sindh, has advised growers not to sow unapproved varieties of cotton.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, director general Malik Mohammad Akram said such varieties spread virus and diseases.

He said a certain variety — Bt. cotton — was sown in some areas last year, which was not approved by the Provincial Seed Council, adding this cultivation was in violation of the Cotton Control Act.

He pointed out varieties were approved keeping in view all characteristics, like high yield, disease resistance, virus-free, early maturity and seed quality, and in the interest of farmers and development of crops.

He directed district officers, agriculture, to keep an eye on seed multiplication and marketing of Bt. cotton.

He said stores of seed dealers and companies should be checked and seed of unapproved variety should be seized.

He said under the Cotton Control Act, crop sown with the unapproved variety would be uprooted.

The district officers were also directed to launch awareness campaigns in their districts and guide growers in this respect.

Meanwhile, Mr Akram held his first meeting on Saturday after being posted as the director general.

He directed officials of the department to solve problems of the farming community and advised research experts to suggest ways to enhance agricultural productivity.

POSITION HOLDERS: The University of Sindh on Saturday announced the names of position holders in various disciplines.

Miss Badarun Nisa, daughter of Bashir Ahmed Memon, has secured fist position in the MBA (Hons), final semester examination, 2000, while Miss Pashmeena, daughter of Imdad Hussain Shaikh, and Sanobar, daughter of Abdul Rehman Shaikh, have secured second and third positions, respectively.

In MBA (pass), final semester, 2001, Miss Seema Durrani, daughter of Abdul Rab Khan Durrani, secured first position, Mr Rasool Bux, son of Mohammad Bux Mallah, secured second position and Mr Asadullah, son of Ali Bakhsh Chandio, secured third position.

In MBA (Hons), final semester, 2001, Miss Hina Rind, daughter of Amir Ali Rind, secured first position, Miss Roofi Baig, daughter of Hashmat Baig Silawat, and Miss Aisha Hameed, daughter of Abdul Hameed Memon, shared second position, while Miss Saulat Farheen, daughter of Saeed Akhtar, has secured third position.

In BBA (Hons), part-III, 2001, Mr Kashif Ghani, son of Abdul Ghani Bhatti, secured first position, while Miss Fozia, daughter of Noor Hussain Memon, and Miss Rani Farah Naz, daughter of Fateh Mohammad Shaikh, secured second and third position, respectively.