News Desk |
Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Thar on a day-long visit today 8th March 2019. The prime minister will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other senior party leaders to Thar, where he will address a rally at Chachro and review the Thar Coal project.
According to sources quoted by local media, the premier will distribute health cards among the people. He is also expected to announce a special package for Thar during his visit.
The event is being organized in Chachro, which was also the constituency of the foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in the 2018 general elections.
According to the health department, every year 1,500 children die of malnutrition, infections and lack of proper medical facilities in the remote region.
MPA Abdul Razzak Rahimoon, who belongs to former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim’s group, will host a luncheon for the PM. It is expected that Khan will launch the health card scheme for 120,000 families of the drought-stricken district besides announcing a development package.
Rahim is expected to announce his joining of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the occasion. Rahimoon and Rahim, who are also assisting PTI in organizing the public meeting, will read out demands for development in Thar.
Last year the prime minister had expressed concern over the situation in Thar and had directed Health Minister Aamer Mehmood Kiani to visit the area at the earliest and provide relief to the people by addressing their health-related issues.
Read more: Human life wilts under chronic Thar crisis
The toll of children dying of malnutrition and diseases in Sindh’s Tharparkar region continues to rise as three more children succumbed to malnutrition on February 24th this year.
According to sources in the health department, the minors passed away in the 48 hours that preceded, taking the death toll for February to 47 and 118 for the year. The deaths reported by the local health department have said to be caused by malnutrition and other diseases in the area.
Read more: Sehat Insaaf Card for around 6 million families in Punjab
According to the health department, every year 1,500 children die of malnutrition, infections and lack of proper medical facilities in the remote region. A report released by the United Nation’s Children Fund in April 2018 stated that Pakistan is among countries with the highest infant mortality rates, with 22 infants dying before turning one-month-old. Among these countries, eight are in Africa and two in Asia, including Afghanistan which is ranked third.