CM Sindh denies hunger induced deaths in Tharparkar

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah addressing the provincial assembly session Monday said the government in recent past has arranged wheat worth Rs 2 billion for 160,000 people of drought hit area in Tharparkar.

Responding to comments made by certain opposition members on the floor of the house about media reports regarding dismal situation in the area, Qaim Ali Shah said no person in the area had died of hunger during past five years.

He also denied any unusual surge in the incidence of child death in Tharparkar mentioning that only one child is reported to have died in the recent past and he belonged to Nagarparkar.

The CM said: “Drought is a natural phenomenon and is not Thar specific but registered in all parts of the country designated as arid zones.”

“And drought consequent poverty is also not unusual in the arid zones of the country,” he said reiterating that this does not absolve him or his government to realize their responsibilities towards the people of the affected areas.

PPP, therefore, since coming into power in its previous tenure as well as in the current one is working for infrastructure development with provision for water as its top most priority, he claimed.

The chief minister said a network of RO plants has been established in Tharparkar Nagarparkar and its vicinity and the number would be raised to 150 by June 2015.

Moreover, we are also engaged in repairing of the existent potable water pipeline in the area but also taking measures in its expansion to the remotest areas, the CM said.

Qaim said the provincial government fully conscious of its responsibilities towards needs of people in Tharparkar Nagarparkar and areas in the vicinity has ensured that doctors including lady doctors are readily available.

During last one year period, we have appointed 46 doctors in the area besides ensuring provision for a well equipped health facilities including hospital, he said.

He also referred to construction of new road networks in the area coupled with initiating the 10 billion dollar gas power generation project in Thar.

He said the wind corridor developed by the Sindh government contributing 100 mega watts of power to the national grid. (APP)