Mirpurkhas Mango Festival concludes

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, observed that the mangos of Mirpurkhas were famous in America and European countries due to different quality and tasty varieties, adding that these mangos not only the identity of Sindh but also of Pakistan.

He was addressing the prize distribution ceremony at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Exhibition Hall, Mirpurkhas, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Mango Festival which.concluded on June 6. The Chief Minister remarked that the Sindh government was endeavoring to introduce the Mirpurkhas mangos worldwide in order to reach foreign markets and increase exports. 

He said that the issue of export of mangos was being taken up with the federal government in order to coordinate with the foreign embassies to boost the export of Mirpurkhas mangos. The Chief Minister went round different stalls of mangos and expressed his delight over the untiring efforts of the growers. 

Senator Hariram Kishori Lal, MNA Mir Munawwar Talpur, Provincial Minister, Ali Mardan Shah, MPAs Mahesh Malani, Khairunissa Mughal, Nusrat Sultana Khawaja, Advisor Abu Bhai, former MPA Shamim Ara Panhwar, Secretary Irrigation, Commissioner Shafique Mahesar, DC Rasheed Ahmed Zardari, DG Agri Extension Hidayatullah Chhajar, DH Agri Research Atta Muhammad Soomro, SSP Usman Ghani Siddiqui, and a large number of growers were present on the occasion.

Later the Chief Minister distributed cash prizes and shields among the winning farmers. The first prize of Rs. 20,000 and shield in the Festival Group A went to Nawazabad Farm, the second position was won by Seth Ajay Kumar with shield and cash Rs.15,000 while Sajid Sons stood at third position and received cash Rs.10,000 with a shield. 

The winners of the Group B were Allah Bachayo Rajar with Arif Bhurgari getting the second prize and Mohammad Ali Arain was declared third. They received cash awards of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively alongwith their shields. A similar pattern of distribution of cash awards was followed in the Groups in which Raid Illahi Bux Lashari, Sobedar Lashari and Wali Muhammad Deshak finished first, second and third respectively. 

Earlier the Chairman of the Management Committee Mango Festival, Umer Bughio, in his welcome address, talked about the issues being faced by growers. He demanded that Solar System tube wells be provided to growers on at least 80% subsidy in order to eliminate salinity and water logging. He also urged for the construction of Seminar Hall for Horticulture to be completed on priority basis.