ISLAMABAD: The largest desert of Pakistan, Thar, is facing a devastating drought. An extremely slow response of the relevant provincial and federal government departments and agencies has made more than 2.5 million people vulnerable to extreme hunger and thirst. It has been reported in the media that hundreds of thousands of people have migrated to other parts of the province, with their livestock having died due to the ongoing drought.
The impoverished and malnourished 2.5 million people of Thar and around 3.5 million domestic animals, including cows, camels, goats, sheep, as well as wild animals, such as horses, deer and various species of birds, urgently need food, medical supplies and fodder in order to survive these trying times. To combat this dismal scenario, local and international NGOs are requested to come forward and rescue the drought–hit inhabitants of Thar.
In addition, the provincial government is requested to construct canals, channels and dams in this area as was planned and designed by British irrigation engineers before Partition so that this part of Sindh, which often remains in the grip of drought and famine, may not suffer in the future.
Hashim Abro
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.
