MITHI, May 2: Development in Thar can be gauged from its existing metalled roads which a few years back were non-existent. This was an evidence of the present government’s endeavour to bring the area at par with the rest of the country, said the Sindh Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Rahim to reporters on Wednesday.

So far, construction of 600km roads has been completed in Thar with another 1,900km to be completed in future which will connect this far-flung belt with the rest of the country, besides bringing economic progress, said the CM.

"A cadet college on 200 acres is being established near Naukot which will provide better educational facilities to the youth of Thar", he said.

Work is being carried out to repair and widen the Mithi-Naukot and Vango-Mithi road, along with 22-mile Runn distributary being lined to provide drinking and irrigation water to the residents and growers from Naukot to Kaloi.

"Thar has potentials to promote tourism as a number of tourists visit the place every year, hence rest houses would be built near Naukot Fort and Nagarparkar to provide lodging and boarding facilities to tourists,"Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim contended.

To a query, the CM said, Puran and Dhoro, which were meant for unhindered flow of rainwater, have been encroached by various circles at different locations.