KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has constituted a Judicial Commission to investigate the situation in Thar in the wake of continuing deaths of children because of malnutrition and waterborne diseases. The two-member commission headed by Justice retired Ghulam Sawar Korai has been tasked to complete its inquiry in 15 days.

Latest reports from Thar put the death toll of children at 173 since Jan 1 because of waterborne diseases and malnutrition.

Taking notice of media reports, the chief minister said the government had taken practical measure for poverty alleviation in Thar.

“I have improved health services, upgraded basic health units, dispensaries and taluka hospitals by providing equipment and have doubled the budget for medicines.”

Despite that, Mr Shah said, media reports were saying that infants’ deaths were on the rise. He directed Chief Secretary Siddique Memon to constitute a Judicial Commission, headed by Justice retired Ghulam Sarwar Korai, and retired District and Sessions Judge Arjun Ram as member to investigate the situation.

The commission will look into reasons for children’s death, impact of measures taken by the government, point out shortfall in efforts/policy within 15 days and suggest measures for improvement.

The commission will start its work on Monday.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...