HYDERABAD: Zarai bank accused of ignoring PM’s orders on farm loan
HYDERABAD, Nov 1: The president of the Badin chapter of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, Mohammad Khan Sarejo, said on Thursday that the Zarai Taraqiati Bank had refused to carry out the orders of prime minister to give remission to growers of Badin which had been officially declared as calamity-hit area.
In a press statement Mr Sarejo said that the prime minister had issued an order on Aug 22, 2006, granting remission to the growers of Badin who had sought loans amounting to Rs200,000, and waived mark-up up to Rs500,000.
But the bank did not obey the order, he said adding that the unfortunate district had remained a calamity-hit area due to floods and cyclones and it had been officially declared calamity-hit district on 16 occasions over past 20 years.
The government had announced an agricultural package for Thatta and Tharparkar districts but the growers of Badin had been denied benefits of the package, he regretted.
He appealed to the authorities to ensure that prime minister’s directives were implemented; otherwise the growers would take to streets and seek remedy from the courts.
WASA RECOVERY: The managing director of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Altaf Memon on Thursday launched a campaign for recovering outstanding water and sewerage dues in the three city talukas and announced a relief package for the consumers who had defaulted on payment.The agency formed three mobile teams a day ago for the recovery of dues.He said the consumers could deposit their arrears at the rate of Rs500 per month to avoid action under the Revenue Act, which entailed arrest and penalty.
He said that the package would be available for only three months and in case any defaulter failed to take its advantage he would have to face arrest and penalty.
REBUTTAL: Leaders of Dadu Ittehad Youth Wing on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan People’s Party leader and former provincial minister, Pir Mazharul Haq, for using intemperate language against federal minister and ittehad chief, Liaquat Ali Jatoi.
The wing leaders, Syed Fida Hussain Shah Kazmi and Gulab Ali Jatoi, said at a news conference at the press club that if Mr Haq wanted to do politics then he should come to Dadu instead of issuing statements from Hyderabad.
Irked by the reception recently accorded to Liaquat Jatoi in Dadu Mr Haq had unleashed propaganda against him hurting sentiments of tens of thousands of Jatoi’s supporters.
They claimed that the PPP leader had done nothing for the people of Dadu during the three years he had been a provincial minister. He only patronised criminals during those days, they alleged.
Liaquat Jatoi had been elected an MNA from Mehar but he had served all people of the district without any discrimination. In the next general elections people of Dadu would vote for the candidates of Liaquat Ali Jatoi because of his services, they said.