HYDERABAD: A special meeting of the Sindh cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in Mithi on Wednesday decided to table a draft bill on Thar Development Authority in the provincial Assembly during its current session, according to an official handout received here.

It said that the meeting discussed in detail the draft bill and agreed to get it approved in the assembly so that the institution could be established at the earliest.

The proposed TDA would implement plans/schemes under a long-term strategy, the meeting was told.

It was informed that three phases of the free wheat distribution scheme had been completed and the fourth one was under way in the drought-hit areas of Tharparkar. The total cost of the scheme stood at Rs3.36 billion. Under the scheme, 500,000 wheat bags have already been distributed till date.

The meeting expressed its satisfaction of over third party evaluation of doctors/specialist from the Aga Khan University Hospital, whose representatives were present at the meeting. “Not a single child, male or female, died from hunger in Tharparkar,” the meeting was informed.

According to the handout, the Sindh government had asked an AKUH team to visit Tharparkar, investigate and assess the health facilities there and submit a report along with recommendations with reference to the reported deaths. Two members of the team informed the meeting that the overall health facilities available in Tharparkar were satisfactory.

They further stated that the reported deaths occurred because of a delayed treatment or maternity complications. They recommended more awareness of health in the district.

The meeting was informed that over 6,000 youths were provided jobs within the district and various development works were carried out at a cost of Rs11 billion.

It noted that Rs17.66 billion was earmarked for development in Tharparkar district in the current financial year out of which Rs7.26 billion had already been utilised. An amount of Rs500 million had been earmarked for the proposed Thar Development Authority (TDA) and another Rs400 million for its development package.

The meeting was informed that 140 development schemes were being executed in the district.

Besides, construction of a 310-km Thar Coal Road, from Thatta to Islamkot, with an estimated cost of Rs12 billion was under way and 35 per cent of the work had been completed.

The meeting decided to devise a short-term strategy to handle issues of immediate nature and prepare a long-term strategy to convert the desert region of Tharparkar into prosperous areas.

It decided to hire paediatrics, consultants, gynaecologists and other specialists from the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jamshoro, for major hospitals in Tharparkar. It also decided to launch a ‘mobile health facility’ comprising 28 4x4 vehicles and 50 motorcycles with the help of the USAID to ensure vaccination and nutritional treatment of children at their doorsteps.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2014