Pakistan

Sindh CM orders closure of schools, govt offices as death toll rises

Meanwhile, Malik Riaz announces Rs0.5 million worth of aid to heat wave victims' families

Web Desk June 23, 2015

PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday announced that schools, colleges and government offices would shut by 1pm today as the province swelters for a third day, Express News reported.

Shah added that while most government institutions would be closed, all government hospitals and rescue centres would remain operational in order to cater to the people suffering from heat strokes.

Speaking in the Sindh Assembly later on, Shah expressed sadness over the death of many due to the heat stroke. "We are extremely grieved over the death of those in Karachi who suffered due to the heat," he said.

The chief minister also informed the assembly that 15 more people lost their lives on Tuesday on due to the heat.

Addressing the issue of the shortage of electricity and water in Karachi, Shah said that the government is "doing everything they can".

Read: PM orders emergency measures as death toll exceeds 425

The death toll from the intense heat wave sweeping across Karachi and other parts of southern Pakistan has climbed to 425 over the course of 72 hours, snowballing into a major health crisis in the country.

Droves of people continued to suffer from the effects of sunstroke and other heat-related complications brought about by the sweltering temperatures.

Malik Riaz announces aid

Earlier today, Founder of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz announced that he will be distribute Rs0.5 million to the families of the victims who died of the heat in Karachi.

Read: Malik Riaz pledges funds for Rohingyas

Previously, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the rising number of deaths and issued orders for tackling the situation, while the Sindh government elicited help from the army and the paramilitary Rangers to deal with it.

COMMENTS (16)

Disgusting | 9 years ago | Reply Will Qaim Shah be the first Chief Minister to be hanged?

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply @Jibran: You are full of crap dude. In of the other posts with reference to the issue of power outages, you was demonizing the federal government and here you are acting like some village spiritual healer giving tips on rehydration. At the same time, you have the audacity to insult posters who are rightfully criticizing Sind government and its dysfunctional government by calling them paid touts of the establishment. I always knew that this neutrality you adhered to was just a facade and you are as a matter of fact a cheap Pipliya in disguise. A rare commodity indeed which has gone instinct.

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K B Kale | 9 years ago | Reply India's southern states (Telangana & Andhra) & South-Eastern state (Odissha) also had suffered heat wave disaster this year claiming some 2000 lives. We Indians stand with you in your hour of grief! I don't know how well Sindh govt is helping its people, but in such cases it is never enough!

ishrt salim | 9 years ago | Reply @Jibran: As usual being one from the group of people who would love to be in the state of denial. Facing facts is not in our culture, owning responsibility is not in our culture, but loot & corruption is in our culture.

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply @Burki: And the Shinning track record of the armed forces speaks for itself?

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply @Jibran: Looks like the paid touts of this dysfunctional corrupt government are out in full force to defend it's pathetic track record. If your dysfunctional government consisting of drug addicts, thugs and land mafia had provided meaningful and lasting relief on just few things then people would not be criticizing them today on everthing.

pervaiz | 9 years ago | Reply Dear Shah Jee. Please do something first and then speak. Do not blame federal govt as people died at roads and when heat stroke patients reached hospital there was not even first aid. Did you pay electricity bills of hospitals and water board to K electric?? if so, then you can blame K electric.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply People should refrain from fasting during this heatwave. Adequate drinking water is needed to fight off heat strokes. @ishrat salim: @Burki: It has become fashionable among cheapsters like you to demonize the Government on everything. After noticing the failings of the press releases, tweets, and "defense analyses" on TV, blogging seems to be a new strategy of the paid touts of the establishment.

ishrat salim | 9 years ago | Reply After demonizing the Army / Rangers, by PPP chief Mr Zardari, the CM Sindh has the cheek to request the Army / Rangers for help. Immediately, they set up 22 heat stroke centers across Karachi. This action was due from the Sindh health dept not the Army / Rangers. Does this not show how dysfunctional Sindh govt is ?

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply wow! that's unbelieveable ... this drug addict, perpetually dysfunctional CM of Sindh was able to come out of his coma to release a statement, that's a huge surprise.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply Just hopeless.

Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply So the answer to not doing work in the first place is to... not do work and take time off Bravo

Vegetable Man | 9 years ago | Reply "Shah said that the government is “doing everything they can”." Which basically means they are doing nothing...

Kaleem | 9 years ago | Reply If Malik riaz distributes 5 lac to 450 families, every family will get Rs. 1100/- and their lives will be changed forever :)

Farhan | 9 years ago | Reply @Khan: Actually no, you should go and see the homes he's built for Christians in Lahore after there village was burned down. You should check with people who worked during floods, he provided food to everyone in areas of noshera etc. When edhi was robbed malik riaz paid almost the entire amount to him. Give credit where its due.

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Malik Riaz always uses the calamities for publicity, he announces aids/funds for the victimes but as soon as the news dies he disappears too. I wonder where did his Billions of Dollars aid for the flood victims went which he so proudly announced on CNN in 2010.

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