MULTAN City News

Irrigation Dept budget increased

to promote agriculture: minister

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: The Punjab government has increased the irrigation budget to promote agriculture and its production, said Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed.

He was talking to farmers during his visits to Hamidpur, Chak 5-Faiz, Larr and Qadirpur Raan to review cotton crop on Tuesday. He said that the budget had been increased to Rs 450 million from Rs 250 million to provide drip irrigation equipments and solar tube-wells to the farmers on subsidised rates, besides boosting water resources across the province. He said that performance of the Punjab Agriculture Extension field workers was being improved and soon the government would provide them 2,500 motorcycles. The minister said that the government was taking steps to bring green revolution in the agriculture sector. He said that it was the priority of the government to protect the interests of the growers. He ordered the Agriculture Department officials to provide maximum relief to the farmers at their doorsteps. He warned the officials to improve their performance otherwise action would be taken against them. Agriculture Executive District Officer Shafqat Hussain Bhatti said that cotton had been cultivated on 345,000 acres in Multan as compared to the last year when it was sown on 405,000 acres.

 

Multan traders stage demos against rising crimes

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: Traders staged demonstrations in Timber Market, Ghallah Mandi, Fruit and Vegetable Market, Gardezi Market, Gulshan Market, Loha Market and Vehari Road against rising crimes on Tuesday.

The traders were chanting slogans against the alleged police failure to control the crimes. The traders’ leaders Khawaja Suleman Siddique, Khawaja Shafiq, Arif Fasihullah and Khalid Mehmood Qureshi warned of closing their businesses if police failed to protect their lives and properties. They said that the traders were terrified since the murder of their two colleagues by the dacoits on resistance. They alleged that police had failed control the incidents of motorcycle lifting, robbery and mobile phone snatching in major markets and residential areas of the city. Daily nine to 12 motorcycles were being stolen in the city but the police were allegedly avoiding to register cases to show their good performance, the traders added.