HYDERABAD, July 29: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar has directed the provincial food and health secretaries to set up their camps in Badin and ensure that the people are provided with food and medicines.

He issued the directives at a meeting with the Sindh government officials in Saeedpur Takar, Tando Mohammad Khan taluka, on Tuesday.

The chief minister, who has earlier visited the rain-affected areas, directed the revenue officers to conduct a survey of the looses caused by rain and provide relief to the people.

He directed the administration to expedite relief operation, specially in Badin, Thatta and Tharparkar districts where people were facing miseries due to the heavy downpour.

He said the federal government had provided Rs50 million but it was not sufficient to restore the civic life. He said the Sindh government had sought Rs200 million from the Centre.

He said philanthropists could play a vital role in relief operation and appealed to them to help the government in its measures for providing assistance to rain victims.

He said a survey of standing crops inundated with rainwater was being conducted and gave an assurance that affected growers would be compensated for their losses.

He also directed the Sindh irrigation department to strengthen embankments of the Indus River and canals to avoid breaches. He said negligent officers would be taken to task.

Sindh minister for Auqaf and Zakat Dr Irfan Gul Magsi, provincial minister for mineral development Haji Mohammad Usman Malkani, chief secretary Dr Motawakal Qazi, food secretary Ameer Ali Barq, officers of revenue and health departments and others attended the meeting.

Our Mithi correspondent adds: The Sindh government has released Rs5 million to begin relief measures for the affected people in Thar.

This was stated by the chief minister, Sindh, Ali Mohammad Mahar, on Tuesday, while visiting the rain-hit parts of Mithi town. He said that accumulation of rainwater, damage of properties and the loss of lives were the result of improper town planning.