Zardari emphasises on need of adopting methods of irrigation to grow crops with less water

HYDERABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) co-chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasized on the need of adopting modern methods of irrigation to grow crops with less supply of water.

Speaking at a public meeting in a village here on Saturday, Zardari acknowledged that the shortage of water had been creating problems for the farmers in Sindh. "I have discussed with chief minister about bringing modern methods of irrigation and that the farmers should be provided free water with only 5 to 10 percent charges," he said.

He said the agriculture in the developed worlds was applying the new techniques of less water intensive crops and the same could be applied in Pakistan as well.

He said Pakistan's agro based industry was dependent on agriculture. "If we don't grow the agriculture sector than think about your population and to what level it will increase tomorrow and its needs for food," he added.

Speaking earlier, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah raised the issue of gas supply suspension to the industries and CNG stations in addition to the complaints from the domestic consumers about low gas pressure or outages.

According to him, Sindh has taken up the matter in the meetings of the Council of Common Interests.

The PPP Sindh's President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, former CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other leaders of the party also spoke.