‘Agriculture sector vital to country’s prosperity’

OKARA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Irshad Ahmad Saturday said agriculture sector was very important in terms of prosperity and progress of the country.

Chairing a meeting of the District Agriculture Advisory Committee (DAAC), the DC said the government had taken all possible steps to extend interest-less loans, provision of well standardised seeds, pesticides and fertilizer for better agriculture production. He said the District Agriculture Advisory Committee had been playing its due role. The meeting was told that maize crop was cultivated on 110,545 acres of land in the district and cotton crop on 33,120 acres of land.

Mian Muhammad Farooq of Kissan Ittehad, Mian Khalid Parvez of Kissan Board, Chairman Potato Research Board Chaudhry Maqsood Ahmad Jat, Assistant Commissioners of all three tehsils of the district, Deputy Director Agriculture (Extension) Chaudhry Shahbaz Akhtar and the representatives of concerned deptts, Commercial Banks, Pesticides and Fertilizers companies also attended the meeting.

RESEARCH OFFICER FELICITATED: Renowned scientist and fodder research officer of Bahadurnagar Farms Muhammad Amin Shakir was felicitated by Chaudhry Maqsood Ahmad Jatt, chairman Potato Research Board, Pir Nasimudin, chairman Maiz Board Punjab, on winning the Punjab government Outstanding Award and cash award Rs 100,000 on his excellent performance. Amin rendered meritorious services in the developing different kinds of fodders for cattle and the government awarded him after acknowledging his services.

IMPORTANCE OF E-LIBRARY STRESSED: E-library in charge Muhammad Ibrahim Saturday said e-library project was very vital to impart knowledge to students and professionals in this age. He said students, researchers and all knowledge-friendly people could obtain much relevant knowledge trough e-library.

He said that the e-Library had been equipped with 30 lap tops for adults and 15 tablets for teenagers. He said that aspirants could get membership to enhance their knowledge.

DISTILLERY UNEARTHED: Police Saturday unearthed a mini distillery. On a tip-off, Mandi Ahmadabad police raided Nanga Singh village and arrested accused Rashid, who was running a mini distillery at his home. The police recovered 141 litre liquor and other accessories. The police also recovered 25 litre liquor from accused Shaukat of Kot Nihal Singh and accused Awais of Ziauddin Colony, Depalpur, with 52 litre liquor.

FAKE CHEQUES: Police booked a man on charges of issuing fake cheques on Saturday.

Habibur Rehman of Bahawalnagar bought dry milk and other chemicals from Maqsood Iqbal of Nawab Colony and gave him two cheques worth Rs 1 million each. The cheques were bounced. A-Division police have registered a case