THATTA: Residents of a number of villages assembled in this city on Friday and held a march to draw the attention of elected representatives and the authorities concerned to the poor state of civic infrastructure and unavailability of basic amenities in their areas.

Led by Aijaz Jakhro, Abdul Jabbar Bhanbhro, Ghulam Ali Jakhro, Zakir Shah and Lutf Ali Halo, the participants carrying banners and placards raised slogans against the Sindh government.

They started the march from Edhi Centre and, after passing through different roads, held a sit-in at a section of the National Highway before holding a demonstration outside the local press club.

Speaking to them, the leaders said that decades-old villages like Lakho Bhanbhro, Leemon Dafra­ani, Ramzan Hejab etc did not have any roads or proper infrastructure although political parties, before every election, would promise to change the destiny of these rural areas.

After several decades now, all these villages were without motorable roads, adequate supply of drinking water and other basic amenities, they said, adding that most schoolbuildings were in a dilapidated state while the civic infrastructure badly damaged due to rain, flooding and other reasons had never been rehabilitated.

The protesters noted that millions of rupees were released in every year’s budget for various schemes and rehabilitation works but no development works were carried out. “It is beyond one’s comprehension that where do the huge funds go,” the leaders said.

They said the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and any of its allies in the next elections should expect support of rural population due to the neglect shown by all elected representatives over the past few decades.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2022