ISLAMKOT:
Tharparkar is one of the largest deserts in Pakistan and is densely populated. The region has the potential to become the Dubai of Pakistan. Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated two coal-fired power projects in the region. The first phase of the coal power project is expected to yield 660 megawatts of electricity and 175 billion tonnes of coal. The government and all stakeholders involved in this project must fulfil their promises and provide Tharparkar’s residents with their due share.
For years, Tharparkar has been deprived of basic facilities such as electricity, road infrastructure and the internet. The people have been living in poverty and destitution. Most residents depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods. They should be provided with modern equipment and infrastructure to continue their agricultural activities and protect their crops from extreme weather events. Given Tharparkar’s potential to drive the province and the country towards development and growth, the locals should be lifted out of poverty and facilitated through educational and economic incentives.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2023.
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