RIYADH, 30 October 2007 — Sindh Minister for Culture, Tourism and Social Welfare Rauf Siddiqui has said he is trying to forge harmony between rural and urban Sindhis.
“I love Sindh and Sindhis and to foster ethnic harmony I have instituted awards for writers and poets of Sindh. Josh Malih Abadi Award will be given to Sindhi writers while Sheikh Ayaz Award has been instituted for Urdu writers. This has been done to bring urban and rural Sindhis closer,” Siddiqui, who belongs to the Muttaheda Qaumi Movement, told Pakistani writers, poets and journalists at a gathering here.
Siddiqui has served as minister for excise and taxation and home minister in the Sindh provincial government before he took over as culture, tourism and social welfare minister in September 2006. Siddiqui answered questions concerning his ministry and spoke about his experiences while heading the three ministries.
He said that as the minister for excise and taxation he had been able to promulgate laws to provide relief and benefits to the poor. This had been a great help to poor families who were burdened with heavy taxes despite living in small houses.
He said he was working to bring social harmony between new and old Sindhis. He said he was proud that he had been able to bring Sindhi and Urdu-speaking intellectuals closer. The gathering, at the house of local businessman Zaheer Ahmed, was attended by MQM members in Riyadh, writers, journalists and businessmen.
