Zardari inquires about well-being of a child in Mithi. PHOTO: PR
HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Friday travelled to Mithi, the main city in Tharparkar, which was officially declared drought-hit nearly two months ago.
Zardari visited the Civil Hospital and the office of Thar Coal Project before chairing a meeting of local officials.
The former president directed the Sindh government to establish a university, cadet college and vocational school in the district. He also announced provision of greater health and drinking water facilities for Tharparkar and promised a water purification plant for every village. He also instructed the provincial authorities to set up 150 dastarkhwans (free community meals) in Mithi.
Zardari asked the chief operating officer of the reverse osmosis (RO) plants, Irshad Hussain, to make all defunct RO plants functional and to build new ones. According to Hussain, the combined capacity of all the 48 RO plants is 75,000 gallons, enough to supply drinking water for 25,000 to 30,000 people, while another 25 RO plants are under construction.
Zardari visited children’s nursery and paediatrics ward at the Civil Hospital Mithi where he inquired form the parents about their children’s health. He also visited Bahria Town’s medical camp, where four mobile medical teams are busy treating people.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Jam Khan Shoro, Dost Ali Rahimo and others were also present in the meeting.
Memon said the government wanted to provide an RO plant to each village of Tharparkar. He added that the drip irrigation technique, which helps grow crops with the lowest possible use of water, will be introduced for growth of pastures for livestock which is the mainstay of the Thari economy.
The desert region received low rainfall last year. Moreover, the small amount of pastures and crops in the region were destroyed by an unusually strong wave of cold winter.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2014.
COMMENTS (7)
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Instead of punishing the corrupt MPAs and bureaucrats and reforming the administration there, forming new administrative system there, establishing sustainable water resource and food supply mechanisms Mr. zardari is announcing cadet college, university and "dastarkhawan" there. Such projects have great potential for corruption as can be seen in numerous such projects which either have been built in files only or built to a poor standard all over the wadera fiefdom called sind and the unfortunate Karachi
@Jibran: Hahaaah! All these years your beloveds were carousing and jet-setting. Now all of a sudden they feel empathy and compassion for the Tharis and wake up after sunset. But the damage has been done. Lives lost cannot be brought back. This is all because of a dam-care attitude towards the electorate and not knowing what GOVERNANCE is all about. You have very conveniently forgotten the plight of the flood victims of 2010 and 2011. You have also forgotten the lavish LUNCHEON arranged for the PM when he visited Thar and refused to attend. You have also forgotten that while Tharis were dying of disease, hunger, and thirst the CM and his cronies were enjoying lunch. NATURE has its way. Salams
Ohhhh come on Jibran don't call there elected dictators as democrats in presence of these 2 politicians we are experiencing worst form of disguised dictatorship both of them enjoys ultimate powers with almost no authority delegation to any institutions and person for any decision which they are entitled as per constitutions please must consult with Federal or Sindh Govts patriotic officers who are crying blood tears...at least acknowledge that Gen. Mushraf being dictator was even proved as good democrat he was the one given empowerment to the masses at union council level by establishing strong local body system and now "Democrats" have failed to extend this power to masses...he was the one who gave women and minorities sizable share in national and provincial assemblies... all govt. autonomous bodies/ministries were making independent decision just few examples NADRA, NHA, HEC,PTA, Steel Mill, PIA and all other were out from politics now see whats happening...i hope my comments have must given you chance to reevaluate your ideas
It is about time we should bring this region at par with the other areas of province. Better late than never! Let us hope and pray that the local administration does its job and not waste or steal the monies.
Instead of improving government primary and secondary schools, what is the point of wasting fund to benefit few people.
The very reason why democracy is better than dictatorship. A dictator will see people bleeding on live tv and do nothing to stop the bloodbath. A democrat knows if he remains oblivious to the miseries of the people he will be forgotten.