Calamity-hit areas: Sindh government apprises SC about community development works

The Sindh government apprised the Supreme Court of short, medium and long term steps taken for the integrated community development in the calamity-hit areas, particularly Tharparkar. The additional advocate general Sindh Wednesday filed a report regarding the measures taken by the provincial government to control increased neonatal and infants death in Tharparkar district.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah heard the suo motu case. The AAG informed that on the directions of the apex court, a committee headed by chief secretary Sindh and having members from the Sindh government was constituted for taking urgent steps on short, medium and long term basis.
He said that the committee prepared an integrated community development and growth framework Thar Region (2018-23). According to the report, the Sindh government declared Tharparkar as well affected Dehs in seven others districts including Umerkot, Sanghar (Khipro, Sinjhoro), Shahdadkot (Kohistan part), Dadu (Kohistan region), Jamshoro, Badin and, Thatta as 'calamity affected' under the Sindh National Calamities (Prevention & Relief) Act, 1958.
The government announced the relief packages of free distribution of 50 kilograms wheat for three months to each family in the affected areas. The distribution process of free wheat started from September 24, 2018 in the calamity-hit areas.
The relief commissioner Sindh took up the matter of rescheduling of loans/microfinance with the State Bank of Pakistan from October 26, 2018. The SBP was asked to consider issue necessary instruction to all the concerned schedule banks/MF institutions for rescheduling/postponing their installment/recoveries as a relief to the people.
The Sindh government announced 'Additional Package of Ration Bags for Pregnant & Lactating Women' at mother and child health centres. By November 5, 2018, 10,000 pregnant and lactating women out of 46,206 identified beneficiaries were given the ration bags.
The health department organised medical camps in all the Talukas of the district in coordination with the major public sector medical universities and different organisations/ trusts. The planned camps will continue to provide service for one month. The objective is to understand the nature of emergency, overall condition of women health, especially the pregnant women, and to streamline the system.
The National Institute of Child Health (NICH) has been tasked to set up a unit for NICH for childcare on urgent basis in Mithi Hospital for attending to emergency and health issue of neo-natal and infants. The unit is expected to be operationalised soon.
To address the water issue, 589 RO plants have been installed in Tharparkar, out of which 443 are functional while another 245 are in the process of installation. The Sindh Forest Department is in the process of setting up fodder blocks of 40 acres for the livestock in Warwai (Khario Ghulam Shah Forest Block) and Danodhandhal (Loonio Samaa Forest Block) areas of Tallukas Islamkot and Nagarparkar. The sub-soil water in these area is sweet and small boring having (2 to 3 inches) delivery capacity operated on solar system are being installed to grow fodder grass.
The Livestock and Fisheries Department has undertaken vaccination of approximately 515,992 small and large animals from July to October 2018. They also carried out 40,782 animals' drenching and other treatment in the same period. The department has been given the permission for purchase of seven mobile veterinaries dispensaries for Tharparkar, which will be procured after release of funds and completion of codal formalities.
Thar Foundation (TF) was established by the Sindh government and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, having major shares of the provincial government, is working as an engine of change in Tharparkar. The TF is mandated to work in the six major sectors i.e, education, health, livelihood, infrastructure development, social-cultural preservation and disaster. The TF and UNDP have signed a memorandum of understanding to undertake all intervention aligned with SDGs.