HYDERABAD: A 16-foot-high statue of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was unveiled in front of the Bhitshah rest house on the occasion of the great Sufi saint`s 274th urs on Saturday.

Shrine custodian (Sajjada Nashin) Syed Waqar Shah, Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah, Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Senator Aajiz Dhamra, and PPP culture wing president Qasim Siraj Soomro unveiled the giant statue temporarily installed at the place. It was announced that the statue would be permanently installed on an island in the middle of Karar Lake.

The statue has been designed and carved out by noted sculptor Prof Nadir Ali Jamali, who is associated with the fine art department of the University of Sindh.Sughar conference Recitals of Shah Bhitai`s kalam, mystic poetic works of various other poets, folk wisdom and folklore were the main features of the Sughar conference which was held at the H.T. Sorley Hall as part of the urs celebrations.

The poets and artists enthralled the audience and received great applause. An eight-year-old girl, Rukhsana Chandio, who has memorised the whole Shah Jo Risalo, also recited excerpts from it to mesmerise the audience.

A stage show was presented at a different segment to highlight Shah Bhitai`s chapter `Lila Chanesar` at the Shah Latif Auditorium.

Singers and other artists were presenting their performances at a musical programme which was to last late in the night.