DERA GHAZI KHAN, Sept 7: Mortality rate of infants and the children under five years of age is alarming in the district while a majority of children are under fed and living in unhygienic conditions.

This was stated by director general of Bureau of Statistics, Planning & Development, Shamim Rafiq at a seminar here on Saturday.

A seminar was held at the committee room of Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner. In the absence of the commissioner, DCO Ali Bahadur Qazi presided over the seminar.

Guest of honour Dr Shamim Rafiq told the participants that people of Dera Ghazi Khan were living in alarming conditions. He said the bureau had conducted a survey of 100,000 houses of the district. He said 60 per cent of children were under fed and mortality rate was 90 per cent. He said the education sector was no exception.

He said 34 per cent of people had water and sanitation system while 77 per cent of population drank water from hand pumps.

The DCO said in the light of the statistics the district government would work hard to improve living conditions of the people.