20000218

Govt plans to introduce

sugar beet in Sindh

ISLAMABAD: The federal government will introduce sugar beet in Sindh in collaboration with Iran and Turkey, it was reliably learnt.

Official sources told Fortuna that in this regard the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has conducted a primary survey in Sindh province. Federal Secretary for Agriculture Dr Zafar Altaf is scheduled to visit the sites for the purpose in the first week of March.

Earlier, sources said the Cane Commissioner in Agriculture Ministry Inayatullah Khan visited Sindh to locate suitable sites for the introduction of sugar beet in Sindh.

"The coordinator for Sugar Beet Development Programme between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, M. M. Hasan has informed the federal government that so far only two sites have been located by the concerned officials," said the sources. These sites are Fauji Foundation Sugar Mills and Sindh Abadgar Sugar Mills at Mohammad Khan. "The sources said that these two sites are commendable and worth presentable to the Chief Executive of Pakistan, who is also scheduled to go there in order to inaugurate sugar harvesting in Sindh next month," said the sources.

Secretary Agriculture has been informed that during his visit to the proposed two sites a meeting will be arranged with the mills authorities to discuss and finalise the required arrangements and programme of the proposed harvesting inauguration of the new sugar crop in Sindh by the Chief Executive.

"The representatives of Iran and Turkey will also attend this inaugural ceremony as well," added the sources.ÑFortuna