KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed the authorities concerned to prepare a master plan for the infrastructure development of Tharparkar district with the provision of health, education, communication and employment facilities for the district.

He was presiding over a meeting at Chief Minister House to discuss the modalities for setting up a Tharparkar development authority for a long-term and sustainable development for Tharparkar.

The meeting also discussed a short-term strategy to address the miseries of the drought-hit people. The CM directed the officials concerned that planning must be made keeping in view the existing geographical, environmental and ecological condition of the area.

He added that his government intended to lay the foundation of such a development infrastructure work which would even force the future governments to continue for the poor people of Tharparkar district.

The chief minister recalled that it was the PPP which had got vacated the desert area then occupied by the Indian army. The PPP, later on, had constituted the Sindh Arid Zone Development Authority to improve the living standard of the dwellers but the successive government disbanded the scheme causing irreparable loss to the poor people of Tharparkar.

Mr Shah said that in addition to long-term and sustainable development, his government was intending to continue relief to the drought-affected people of Tharparkar under a short-term strategy.

He said that in the first phase of the relief programme, 120,000 wheat bags had been distributed among more than 253,000 families.

Besides, he said, the relief goods comprising ration packets arranged by different organisations and NGOs had also been provided to the people of Tharparkar.

Recalling the importance of clean drinking water for the survival of the people and their health, the chief minister said that the Sindh government had planned to install 150 reverse osmosis plants in addition to the 80 RO plants already functioning in the district.

He said the Sindh government would give enhanced salaries to the doctors stationed in Tharparkar and it had appointed 57 new doctors

He said that those who got admission to medical colleges on the domicile of Tharparkar would be bound to serve in the district for at least three years after becoming doctor.

Some elected representatives of Tharparkar were also present at the meeting and they shared their proposals for the short-term planning for the welfare and uplift of the people of the area.

The person in charge of relief activities in the drought-affected areas, Taj Haider, gave a detailed briefing to the participants in the meeting, informing them that wheat and other relief goods provided by the provincial government were distributed in a transparent manner without any discrimination.

Emphasising the dire need to develop a master plan for the development of Tharparkar, he said that though subsoil water in the areas was brackish, it could be utilised for irrigation as it was being used in the desert areas of the neighbouring country.

Mr Haider urged the planners to evolve a system to promote handicrafts, livestock, fodder for animals, dairies and meat farming, slaughter houses, agriculture, creation of jobs at the local level, installation of solar-based RO plants and income generating opportunities in Tharparkar.