MITHI: Sindh Health Minister Mehtab Dahar said “the situation in Thar wasn’t as bad as portrayed by the media”, while two more children died in the drought-hit Thar on Sunday, raising the death toll to 178 since the start of this year.

The provincial health minister said that during his visit Civil Hospital in Mithi. Dahar expressed satisfaction over the performance of doctors and paramedics at the only government-run hospital in the district.

He claimed “all-out efforts were made by Sindh government to ensure the best healthcare facilities in all towns and villages”.

We are unable to provide the basic health facilities in all the remote villages, but we have already provided these facilities in towns and big villages, the minister said, adding that “media is trying to create enmity between people of Thar and their elected PPP government and all such nefarious designs will be foiled”.

He claimed that Sindh government has carried out "unprecedented" efforts to provide heath facilities in the neglected areas like Thar.

Before the arrival of Dahar in Mithi with heavy protocol, some children admitted at the hospital were reportedly discharged from the nursery ward of Civil Hospital by the hospital administration to apparently show him the "normal" situation in the area.

Dahar went to make political statements, saying “those criticising Sindh government wanted to bring person like former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim into power”, who according to him, only victimised his opponents and had done nothing for the people when he was in power.

The provincial minister then went on to offer training to the media men saying “media should help the government to create awareness among the illiterate people of Thar regarding population planning and early marriages”.

“The local media is totally playing in the hands of anti-Sindh elements," remarked the minister instead of commenting on the crisis at hand.