Advice for cotton crop management issued
July 26, 2021
MULTAN: The south Punjab Agriculture Department has emphasized cotton growers to make management of the cotton crop better at the current phase of cotton bolls maturity.
Talking to reporters after paying field visits to Khanewal, Abdul Hakim, Katcha Khu and other areas, the south Punjab Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali Ateel said the overall cotton situation is quite satisfactory.
The picking of early sown crop in May is on the cards while flowering and cotton bolls are appearing on late sowing crop. At present, the cotton crop is being attacked by Cotton Leaf Curl Virus and pink bollworm. At this stage, better management of cotton is necessary to ensure timely control of pests and diseases, he said. He added that air humidity has increased due to rains and climate change, which has led to an increase in pest pressure, especially pink bollworm and CLCV, so farmers should inspect their crops on a daily basis and do pest scout
July 24, 2021
MULTAN: Opposition Leader in Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has widely condemned India committing grave rights violations in Kashmir and massacring innocent Kashmiris.
Talking to reporters after offering Eid prayer at Darbar Hazrat Musa Pak, he said India had crossed all limits and subjecting Kashmiri civil population to an inhuman torture.
To a question, he said if free and fair elections were held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the PPP would make a clean sweep.
Criticizing declining economy and increasing poverty and inflation he said the government was bringing mini budgets everyday while masses were being crushed with hike and inflation.
Daily Times
July 16, 2021
Secretary agriculture Saqib Ali Ateel has directed agriculture scientists and extension officials to develop an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) model for mango and make friendly pests’ help available to the King of Fruits to meet international market demands for its bulk export and to attract higher foreign exchange earnings.
“We need to shift from traditional practice of relying on pesticides to kill mango enemy pests to IMP model if we want to increase mango exports,” Saqib said in a meeting chaired other day to discuss an IMP model for mango crop. He said, mango was the identity of south Punjab and a potent source of foreign exchange earnings adding that farmers need to employ modern technology and adopt new methods keeping in view the market demand and weather conditions.
July 7, 2021
MULTAN: The South Punjab Agriculture Department has made more than 10,000 acres of barren, barani and irrigated lands cultivable in Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions by using drip irrigation technology. Hundreds of acres of completely uncultivable barren lands had been rehabilitated with fertility and frequent water supply in Khanewal, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalnagar districts. Drip technology is installed in irrigated land areas in all 11 South Punjab districts.
Statistics available with The News disclosed that Dera Ghazi Khan division remained at top in converting the barren and barani lands into cultivable, Bahawalpur division clinched second and Multan ranked at third in installing drip irrigation systems in their respective districts.
1,569 Kashmir refugees of Multan to cast votes in polls
July 6, 2021
MULTAN: Some 1,569 refugees of Kashmir residing in Multan will cast their votes in the upcoming elections in Azad Kashmir.
Arrangements have been made to establish polling stations in Multan for the purpose. The city district administration held a special meeting for the arrangements and setting up polling stations in Jultan on Monday, officials said.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ali Shehzad said four polling stations would be set up in Multan for Kashmiri refugees. He directed that all measures should be taken to make the elections transparent. The foolproof security would be provided to candidates to ensure elections in a peaceful environment inside the polling station. The traffic police would be deployed outside the polling stations for parking arrangements.