HYDERABAD, Dec 28 Expressing grave concern over acute shortage of urea fertiliser, the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture has urged the government to ensure the availability of urea and take action against hoarders and black-marketeers.

A meeting of the Chamber held here on Sunday under the chairmanship of Mir Murad Ali Khan Talpur discussed the situation arising out of the non-availability of urea fertiliser and non-payment of growers` dues of last year by sugar mill owners.

The meeting demanded that more utility stores should be set up to ensure availability of urea at fixed rates of Rs650 per bag. It pointed out that the small growers were facing great difficulties in getting urea from the utility stores at the fixed rates which was being sold at Rs850 to Rs950 per bag in the market.

It regretted that the government had neither taken any notice of the shortage of urea nor taken any action against the hoarders and black-marketeers.

It complained that the growers had not been paid their outstanding dues of sugarcane of last year by the sugar mill owners and demanded of the government to direct the sugar mills to clear the outstanding dues of the cane growers.

It severely criticised the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd (ZTBL) for trying to auction the lands of the small growers who were unable to repay the loans. The meeting demanded that this practice should be stopped forthwith and advised the growers to approach the Chamber immediately for further action if they were served with any notice about the auction of their lands.

HCCI Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed profound sorrow and grief over the death of the proprietor of Al-Mustafa Jewellers Latifabad, Akram Illahi, who had expired a couple of days back due to shock in the backdrop of burglary in his shop.

A general body meeting of the Chamber held here on Sunday under the chairmanship of Mr Shafique Ahmed Qureshi, adopted a resolution expressing concern over the failure of the police to recover the stolen gold and silver and arrest the culprits.

The meeting demanded of the provincial home minister, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, to order the recovery of the stolen property and the arrest of the accused.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Saraf and Jewellers Group at an urgent meeting held on Saturday night has decided to launch a protest movement against the failure of police to arrest the burglars who had broken into Al-Mustafa Jewellers Latifabad Unit No.11 one week ago and decamped with gold and silver valued at millions of rupees.

The meeting which was presided over by Mohammad Shafique Shaikh, observed that the proprietor of Al-Mustafa Jewellers, Mr Akram Illahi had died due to shock. The meeting gave an ultimatum of 72 hours to the authorities for the arrest of the culprits and recovery of the stolen property failing which the jewellers will launch a protest movement.

All the jewellers wore black arm bands on Sunday and held Quran Khawani at the office of the group for the departed soul.

The meeting decided to observe protest day on December 30 and stage demonstration outside the press club if the police failed to recover the stolen property and arrest the accused.