THATTA, May 3: The general body meeting of Pakistan People’s Party, women wing, held here on Saturday underlined the importance of women’s role in bringing improvement in society and decided to help and monitor the education and health sectors and provide maximum relief to poor and old women.

The district president of the women wing, MPA Humera Alwani, presided over the meeting.

Ms Nargis Bano, Najma Jakhro, Aminat Ramzan and Humera Alwani also spoke on the occasion.

A young house wife from Thatta coastal area told the meeting that her husband Nasir Manganhar was forcing her into immoral business.

She, showing the women torture marks on her body, alleged that her addict husband had threatened her to disfigure her face by throwing acid on her. The district president of the party telephoned the TPO Mirpur Sakro, Nawaz Serai, to provide justice to the woman.

The house also expressed concern over the deteriorating quality of education in the district.

It observed that despite investing billions of rupees in the district by the government on education, the result was nil.

The literacy graph remained as low as 23 per cent since last one decade and even the district government, which availed huge funds and resources, failed to deliver in education sector.

The meeting was of the view that illiteracy was the root cause of poverty, lawlessness and backwardness.

EDO health Juman Chandio told the MPA that about 62 health facilities of the district were running short of medicines.

He said that out of 600 sanctioned strength of lady health workers, only 511 were working, who could not cater to the needs of even 30 per cent of the population.

He said 247 vacancies of doctors were yet to be filled in the district and out of 147 doctors, 50 per cent were irregular.

The newly promoted and those on deputation were reluctant to perform their duties and a majority of them were running their private clinics in Karachi. He said the dialysis machines were rusting and lying defective at civil hospital Makli.

The meeting was told that a lot of poor women were begging in the district on being disowned and deserted by their sons and husbands.

It suggested setting up of an old-age house in every district for such women. The meeting demanded recruitment on merit and hoped their party will discourage favouritism and nepotism.

Ms Humera Alwani told the house that in consultation with party high-ups, various committees would be constituted and women committees will monitor and help improve the overall performance of various departments, particularly health and education.