KARACHI:
District Tharparkar, Sindh’s largest district by area, spans over 22,000 square kilometers and is home to more than 1.7 million people. Despite being a vital energy hub for Pakistan, this remote region faces a growing humanitarian and healthcare crisis — compounded by deep-rooted poverty, a low literacy rate of 18.36%, malnutrition and frequent road accidents.
Tragically, the entire district lacks a single modern trauma centre. Whenever a major accident or emergency occurs in areas like Islamkot, Chelhar or Nagarparkar, critically injured patients must endure a grueling 350 to 450-kilometer journey to Hyderabad or Karachi. Taking six to seven hours, this delay often proves fatal. In medicine, the first 60 minutes after an injury — known as the “Golden Hour” — is critical for survival. For the people of Thar, this life-saving window is simply out of reach.
If Thar can power the nation and supply its fuel, denying its residents basic emergency healthcare is a profound injustice. Leaving over a million citizens at the mercy of distant hospitals results in hundreds of preventable deaths. The authorities must act without delay to establish a fully equipped trauma centre at the District Headquarter in Mithi.
Partab Mukhi
Mithi
