HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the deputy commissioner (DC) and chief municipal officer (CMO) of Dadu, and Sindh director general health to improve sanitation in the district five days before Eidul Fitr.

After going through reports submitted by these officers, the bench, comprising Justice Shamsuddin Abbasi and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, said it was not satisfied with the reports as some advocates who were present in the court complained that the situation of roads and sanitation in Dadu was the worst.

The reports were filed in line with a Feb 28 order of the court.

The DC was directed to ensure installation and functioning of reverse osmosis plants while the health DG was instructed to ensure attendance of medical officers (MOs) in the civil hospital and basic health units (BHUs) and maintenance of X-ray and dialysis machines and other equipment.

The court said these officers shall remain in attendance on the next date of hearing i.e., April 18 at 11am. The court also ordered the office of the court to club an identical petition with the petition on the next date.

The court was hearing a public-interest litigation of Mumtaz Lashari advocate, who is appearing in person. It was filed in 2022. He has raised the issues of civic amenities in Dadu.

DC Safdar Ali Mirani in his statement on Wednesday mentioned that the executive engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Dadu had submitted a compliance report in response to his directive pertaining to the cost estimate of drain and interconnecting drainage facility in various areas.

He said the executive engineer of the highways division informed that improvement of the main roads of Dadu had been completed except for the portions where some lines were being laid by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2024