Tharparkar famine: PM Nawaz announces Rs 1bn relief package

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced Rs one billion aid to the provide assistance to the famine affected families. He along with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited Mithi hospital to enquire the health of drought affectees on Monday where he said that the federation along with provincial government will constitute a committee to provide compensation to the victim families.

During the visit, the prime minister was briefed about the relief activities taking place in the area.  He was informed about the rescue services and welfare work being conducted in the area by the government, adding that the relief cells and centres have been constructed in the far flung areas to provide goods and services to the affected people. In the briefing he was told that the total population of Mithi is 13 lacs and wheat has been provided at all the relief centres from where people can get their share after showing identity cards. Poor health facilities plus drought has compounded issue including poor water supply infrastructure, PM was told. He was informed that 60 lac cattle have been vaccinated till now. The administrators told premier that Sindh Government has promised to provide 60,000 wheat bags for the affectees and 61,000 have already been provided. Bilawal Bhutto and Qaim Ali Shah were also present during the briefing.

MEDIA BRIEFING: In an open media briefing, premier was amazed to learn from the presented report that annually only 600 new born babies die with malnutrition.  He said, I am hopeful that the Sindh chief minister will take stern action against the responsible persons. He pledged full support to the provincial government. He advised administration to make arrangements to avoid such calamities in future.  He questioned, Thar and Cholistan have same demographics than why has not drought hit Cholistan.  He asked Sindh CM to take establish mobile health units to provide relief to the affected persons.  He asked the CM to investigate corruption in wheat distribution.

Qaim Ali Shah thanked the premier for visiting the area and apprised him that the situation worsened due to corruption in distribution department. He said a distribution team comprises five to six members have been constituted to examine the relief efforts.  He ensured the premier that the 40 crores have been utilized in the relief efforts and providing compensation to the survivors of the famine. Early media reports stated that upon receiving information about prime minister’s visit, the hospital management and the whole administration came into action and they changed the whole scenario to show only the all-good condition prevailing in the district and hospital.

Another PPP leader said that the Sindh govt had accepted the Rs 100 million in aid provided by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Prior to arriving in Mithi, the prime minister had reached Mirpurkhas where he was welcomed by the chief minister Sindh. The prime minister upon his arrival had taken notice of the problems faced by people of Thar’s Mithi area due to security measures taken before his visit. The premier in his statement issued to media said that hospitals must remain open for patients and they should have access to all areas.

SINGLE CAR: According to media reports, Bilawal Bhutto and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah welcomed the prime minister at the airport. Afterwards both premier and  Bilawal visited the Mithi hospital to investigate the health of drought victims together in a single car.

BILAWAL MEETS AFFECTED FAMILIES: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also visited the district hospital in Mithi. Accompanied by Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Bilawal met with and spoke to patients and their families.