A view of Thar desert. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved on Friday free distribution of wheat among poverty-stricken residents of Thar.
The CM had earlier tasked a committee under Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro with visiting Thar to assess whether there was any need for distribution of wheat among residents of the desert area.
After visiting various talukas and meeting locals, Shoro presented a report which stated that last year the area suffered from drought but the government failed to declare it drought-affected and did not distribute wheat and fodder for Thari people and their cattle. The report mentioned that Thar was facing a similar situation this year as well. It recommended that free of charge wheat be distributed in the area.
Playing for the planet or for Thar?
On the report's recommendation, the CM approved free distribution of 100 kilogrammes of wheat to each of the 287,000 families living in the desert area. "This distribution should start immediately and it should be completed by the end of April," Shah directed Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon.
Shah also directed Memon to issue orders to the Mirpurkhas commissioner to start the distribution of wheat and submit progress reports on a daily basis.
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