Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch and State Minister for Health Sciences Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar visited Jinnah Hospital in the wake of deaths due to the heat wave in Karachi.
Speaking to media, Baloch said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sent him and Saira Afzal for a probe and a complete report would be presented to the premier about the deaths. He said investigations were also being carried out against the K-Electric over load shedding. “PM has not turned his face away from the huge negligence,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Saira Afzal Tarar said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would visit Karachi within the next two days to review the situation. She said climate change became the reason of sizzling heat in Karachi.
Meanwhile the number of patients on Friday decreased in hospitals as the heat lessened. However, the death toll stands at 1029 in seven days of deadly temperature.
In the interior Sindh, at least 69 people have died due to the severe climate. Bahria Town administration arranged Iftaar dinner for the patients and their families in Jinnah hospital. Cash compensations were also distributed among the patients.
Different political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are involved in relief activities at several hospitals.
JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman paid a visit to Jinnah hospital and distributed relief items among the affectees. In addition to influential personalities and political parties, locals are also exerting themselves in relief operations.
However, it has been reported that several people are collecting the items and not providing them to the people in need. According to the details, patients are even seen complaining about lack of cool potable water.
Details have it that at least 100 patients are still under treatment in Jinnah hospital.
On the other hand funeral prayers for fifty unclaimed bodies placed at Edhi Center were offered today (Friday) in Karachi.
A large number of people including Abdul Sattar Edhi attended the funeral prayers. The victims were later buried at Edhi Graveyard near Hub River Road.
Talking to the media, Abdul Sattar Edhi said bodies of 900 heat wave victims were brought to Edhi morgue. He said funeral prayers of fifty victims were offered on Thursday and another 50 victims are being laid to rest today.
The devastating heat wave that struck southern Pakistan last weekend is slowly subsiding but the toll was still climbing Friday, to a total of 1029 confirmed deaths.
