The Provincial Secretary, Department of Culture, Shams Jafrani has said that his Department has planned to celebrate the 265th three-day annual urs of saint poet, Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai(RA)in a befitting manner and will introduce new changes in the scheduled proceedings to make the event successful.
He was presiding over a meeting to discuss the arrangements for the celebration of urs held at Bhitshah Rest House on Sunday. Jafrani said that the DCO Matiari, Baqaullah Unar would be the focal person and co-ordinator for the annual event and asked the representatives of all provincial and district government departments to submit their proposals in this regard.
He also suggested the DCO Matiari some positive, progressive, literal and cultural activities to be arranged during the urs. 'Since a large number of devotees from across the country and outside the country will attend the annual urs, the government has decided to introduce new activities to project Sindh's cultural and historical heritage along with the universal message of the great saint poet Shah Latif,' Jafrani said.
Keeping in view the previous experience, his department has decided to organise a National Adabi Conference, which will be participated by scholars from all provinces of the country including few from India. Jafrani further said that four new books including one translation of Shah-Jo-Risala in Arabic would be brought out during the coming annual urs celebrations.
He also directed to establish a cultural village at Bhitshah where artisans of Sindh will be able to display their artworks. Besides, certain stalls would also be installed where handicrafts, traditional rural foods would be made available for the buyers.
In another move, the Secretary Culture directed the Provincial Agriculture Department to hold agri-exhibition at national level and invite each province for installation of at least one stall and added that this practice would provide platform to the growers of all provinces with an opportunity of exchanging agricultural know how. He also asked the Provincial Health Department to declare emergency at all hospitals and ensure availability of life saving drugs at all hospitals of Matiari District.
He also asked to arrange mobile medical units and to establish informative unit for Hepatitis B and C screening and awareness among the masses. Further, the Secretary ordered proper fumigation during the annual urs celebrations. He asked the local management of the Irrigation department to fill the historical Karar Lake with freshwater before the event kicks off.
Jafrani asked the Works and Services departments to carry repair work on broken roads of Bhitshah and directed the management of T&T and Hesco to ensure their uninterrupted services during the urs celebrations. Further, he asked the Forest Department to provide flower vases and to arrange greenbelt especially on the National Highway-Bhitshah link road.
'For the first time the three-day proceedings of the annual urs would be live broadcast through FM Radio, Bhitshah and also will be telecast in Bhitshah city through local cable network enabling people to enjoy the celebration from their homes. Jafrani ordered the DPO Matiari to take foolproof security measures and install close circuit cameras to strictly monitor any possible untoward.
He also directed to arrange a separate plot for parking of private vehicles at safe distance and to ensure smooth and unhindered traffic flow.
He further said that proper arrangements for temporary sheds, supply of drinking water, medical aid and efficient drainage with lavatory facilities were also being made for devotees during the urs celebrations. However, the Secretary made it clear that a combined Complaint Centre comprising representatives from each stakeholder organisation would be established for redressal of public problems in case of any emergency. He said that arrangements regarding holding of Malakhro, musical concert, Sugharan-Ji-Katchery (Folk Katchery) and exhibitions in various fields were also being made to celebrate the annual urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai with traditional enthusiasm. The Provincial Cultural Secretary appreciated the District Government Matiari for its efforts to remove encroachments from the road approaching the Dargah Sharif and Karar Lake and said that the full participation from the district government would give the event more success.
The DCO Matiari, Baqaullah Unnar said that he would hold separate meetings with each individual and organisation and will assign specific task to them regarding holding of the urs. He asked the officers to maintain close co-ordination among them. The Director Culture, Sindh, Dr Manjhi Khan, Director, Liaquat Memorial Library Karachi, Manzoor Kanasro, DPO Matiari, representatives from provincial and district government departments attended the meeting.