Pakistan

Missing: 90% of funds allocated for Mithi Hospital in Thar remain unaccounted

The funds constituted the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Department’s yearly grant for Mithi hospital.

Web Desk March 11, 2014

Famine affected children from Tharparkar being treated in Hyderabad due to lack of facilities in Thar on March 7, 2014. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: According to records, only ten percent of the 5 million rupees allocated for Mithi Hospital by the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Department have been spent, Express News reported Tuesday afternoon.

An amount of Rs2.5 million was issued by the Sindh Zakat and Ushr Department in October 2013, while a further Rs2.5 million were issued in January 2014. Of this only 0.5 million rupees have been spent so far, according to the news report.

The funds constituted the department’s yearly grant for the Mithi hospital. Investigation is under way for the missing Rs4.5 million.

Secretary Sindh Zakat and Ushr Department has confirmed that only Rs0.5 million was actually spent for the intended purpose.

The drought and ensuing famine in Tharparkar district has led to more than a hundred deaths, most of them were children. The government officials and ministers sprung into action after the media reported the severity of the situation.

According to health department officials, only District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) at the Mithi taluka is equipped to provide health services to underfed children who have been diagnosed with serious illnesses.