Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to visit the drought-hit district of Tharparkar on March 10, Express News reported on Sunday.
The calamity has claimed the lives of at least 122 children in the last three months.
Assuring the Sindh government of relief assistance, the prime minister also provided the provincial government with a cargo-carrying helicopter to speed up the aid work.
Separately, the Sindh government dispatched 10 trucks to distribute wheat to the various villages of the affected district.
On March 7, Prime Minister Nawaz had taken serious notice of the appalling number of child deaths in the area, mainly because of pneumonia and malnutrition.
As news of deaths in the district surfaced in the media, Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani had also taken suo motu notice of the issue.
Correction: In an earlier version of this article, March 10 was mentioned as the definitive date of visit. Express News later reported that he might visit the district on that day.
COMMENTS (17)
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good move by PM :)
Commendable, Great to hear that PM will visit to Thar, i wish "Trouble Makers" Should learn from the succour assistance of Pakistan in this dire, prevailed situation.
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam(retd): INSHALLAH; these animals in human form will be punished and people will see; soon very soon; innocent deaths on shoulders of these corrupt Dingoes who keep biting life out of these poor people;
People should not be starving to death in 2014. It is a shame for Pakistanis and the whole humanity. It is a shame a country that spends billions of rupees on weapons, lets poor kids die of starvation.
to have fried fish and tikka like Qaim Ali Shah had with his entourage while visiting famine hit areas? Can't these politicians forgo even one meal?
And if you find some free time please pay a visit to the families of the victims of the terrorists too.
First of all we need to understand the culture in Tharparkar and other rural areas. How come 22 children died with hunger and malnutrition while none of the adults suffered? I as a father will be the last person eating anything when my children are hungry? The problem is that most of the people in those areas have no respect for life esp. life of a child. I have read somewhere that in a distaster hit area which was affected by floods, the people had put goats and sheep at higher ground to save them from snake bites while children were exposed to danger. When journalist pointed danger to children, the head of the family said that goats and sheep are more preciou, if one child dies, another will come in a year. It doesn't mean that I don't blame government and local authorities. My point is that providing food will never solve the real problem.
Too late. You will be held responsible on the day of Judgement.
The kid's in Thar died because of the negligience of Imran Khan, I didn't see this highlighted any where :)
Its not he is doing Thar people a favor by visiting them. its his responsibility as a Prime Minister of the country and moral obligation as human to check on sick people.
Qaim Ali Shah once again proved that he is incompetent.
Sindh government did nothing for Tharparkar. Again massive corruption by PPP.
Allah bless Pakistan Allah bless Nawaz Sharif
this very good step of prime minister of Pakistan tharparkar is in trouble it is good step by pak govt to visit there and help them because they are pakistani and it is our responsibility to help them
Now all he needs to do is to announce a ' Sindh Festival '......Punjabi style and Bilawal will realise that he wasted 8 billion on the peoples momey. Who said politics was not fun.
Great. The death toll will go up now. You don't distribute Parathas to people who have been starving. Their food intake needs to be monitored by medical professionals, you dont just hand over food unsupervised.
I swear, our country is run by amateurs and buffoons.
ET, I am giving you a scoop here, follow this story.