THATTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that his government will build a ‘new Sindh’ and heal its wounds to enable its residents to take a sigh of relief.

The government would eradicate the sense of deprivation prevailing in the province, he said while addressing a public meeting organised by Pakistan Muslim League-N allies, the Shirazi brothers, at Makli Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

On the occasion, the prime minister made a number of announcements about initiatives of the federal government for Thatta and Sujawal districts, including the launching of Health Card, construction of a 500-bed hospital in Thatta, a road network in rural areas and provision of gas and electricity to villages.

He said that adoption of protective measures against sea intrusion was the responsibility of the Sindh government but, realising the gravity of the issue, he had issued directives for preparation of a feasibility report on a dyke along the coastline.

Comes to coastal area at the invitation of PML-N allies Shirazi brothers

He said that the gigantic project would cost huge funds but being head of the government he found it necessary to save fertile agricultural land and infrastructure from being swallowed by the sea.

Responding to a demand made by MPA Aijaz Shah Shirazi, leader of the Shirazi group, the prime minister said that he had directed the National Highway Authority to complete construction of the coastal highway and the federal government had allocated Rs500 million for the project.

He said that almost all demands made by Mr Shirazi and his brother Syed Shafqat Shah Shirazi, former district nazim of Thatta, were about facilities whose provision was the responsibility of the provincial government. “But today I am here to solve problems confronting Sindh.”

He said that towns of Sindh would be made better than Punjab’s and pledged to allocate maximum funds for beautification of Karachi.

Talking about the Health Card, he said that the scheme had been launched in Punjab, Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. “But the governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have made no such move though health is a provincial subject. Therefore, the federal government has decided to issue these cards in Sindh, beginning from Thatta.”

Following a survey of the beneficiaries, he would again arrive in Thatta to distribute the cards, the prime minister said.

Talking about the benefits of the Health Card, he said that the holder of the card would be provided free treatment at government health facilities.

He said that if a poor man suffered from cancer, heart or kidney diseases, he had no other option but to sell out his house to generate funds for his treatment. He said that a poor man finding his only son inflicted by these diseases could acknowledge the importance of free treatment.

Addressing the audience, Mr Sharif said: “It’s your right and my duty. I am not extending any favour to you.”

He also announced that the government would bear expenses to be incurred on the treatment of spinal cord of Ali Mohammad Uderai, a local poet.

Mr Sharif announced gas supply to a number of villages in Thatta and Sujawal districts and electrification of about 300 villages of Thatta, Sujawal and Tando Mohammad Khan districts.

He also announced construction of 50km metallic roads in rural areas of Thatta, Rs400m water supply project and Rs200m allocation for other civic facilities.

The prime minister said that his government would consider establishment of a university in Thatta.

He said the construction of a motorway (between Karachi and Hyderabad) was nearing completion.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2017