HYDERABAD, Oct 12: The Sindh Chamber of Agriculture urged the government on Sunday to direct Pasco to establish centres across the province for the purchase of rice at government-fixed rate of Rs900 per 40 kilogram.

The chamber leaders said at a meeting that the government should establish sale centres in Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan and Matiari for the sale of urea fertiliser at the rate of Rs650 per bag.

The meeting pointed out that the sugar mills had not yet issued bills to farmers and reminded the government that despite the mill owners’ agreement with the government on clearing outstanding dues by Aug 15 the growers had not yet been paid their bills.

The meeting urged the government to ensure adequate supply of water for kharif crops and demanded that the crushing season should be started on time to facilitate growers and help them cultivate wheat crop.

Syed Qamaruzzaman Shah presided over the meeting, which was attended by Mir Murad Ali Talpur, Akhund Ghulam Mohammad Siddiqui, Mohammad Anwar Bachani, Mir Imdad Ali Talpur and others.

HCCI: The Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed grave concern over an increase of 45 to 50 per cent in electricity tariff and said that it would lead the cottage industry to complete destruction.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the president of the chamber Haji Mohammad Yaqoob, senior vice-president Mohammad Akram Arain and other leaders of business community said that the industrial and agriculture sectors simply could not afford that much increase in power tariff.