KARACHI: The Sindh government has refused to accept the help and assistance offered by the Punjab government for immediate relief of the drought-hit people, especially the women and children of Tharparkar dying of hunger and disease, Geo News reported.
A handout issued by the Punjab government said that the Sindh government was offered all sorts of help and assistance for drought-hit Tharparkar through a communication, but the Sindh government has rebuffed the offer.
On March 7, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken notice of the food shortage in Tharparkar and directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide immediate assistance.
According to an official notification, the prime minister directed the NDMA to immediately contact authorities in Sindh and ensure all necessary measures were taken.
Reports states 121
children have died of pneumonia and malnutrition in the Thar desert.
The Sindh government has ordered a
probe and the arrest of senior health officials for neglecting their duties.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took suo moto notice of the death of children in Thar due to malnutrition.
The Thar desert begins around 300 kilometres (200 miles) from Karachi and runs up to the border with India, where it joins the Rajasthan desert.
Poor health and communication infrastructure keeps the district disconnected from mainstream population.
In 2000, the desert suffered a famine that killed 90 percent of the livestock, the economic mainstay of the area.