KARACHI – The Sindh government has been directed to prepare a feasibility study for establishing desalination plants in Ibrahim Hyderi and submit the PC-1 of the project.
In the light of President Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting with the Sindh chief minister, cabinet members, advisers, provincial assembly’s speaker and members held at Bilawal House on December 29, the President’s Secretariat (Public) has directed the government to take necessary action. The secretariat also wrote to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to consider issuing necessary instructions to all concerned.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat has directed the Sindh chief secretary and Sindh Planning and Development Department additional chief secretary to prepare the PC-1 for foreign funding.
The president was informed that a UN agency has assured the Sindh government it would provide $30 million for livelihood programmes in Sindh, provincial minister Haji Muzzafar Shujra said after attending the meeting.
According to media reports, the absence of a state-run water supply system in the Ibrahim Hyderi area compels most of the residents to consume underground water, which is severely contaminated with fluoride and arsenic substances.
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah said that as per the new national water policy, it was the responsibility of the state to daily provide 120 litres of water to every citizen. The total population of Ibrahim Hyderi is 120,000, meaning that the government should provide three million gallon water to the residents but they are only receiving 300,000 gallons, he added.
