KARACHI, Oct 12: Despite being a major source of revenue and entertainment, the coastal areas of Karachi have always been ignored by authorities, which are still without basic facilities including potable water, electricity, health and education.

The residents of coastal areas are mainly fishermen who have been facing numerous problems for the last many years, but no action has been taken by the civic agencies or the provincial government in this regard.

Most of the 1200-kilometre-long coastal belt of Pakistan is underdeveloped with limited job opportunities and sources of earning for the inhabitants.

Along the coastal areas in Sindh, villagers are mainly Sindhi- and Balochi-speaking whose vast majority is deprived of potable water and proper drainage system.

The people usually obtain water through water tankers and other have to walk for a long distance to fetch water from wells situated at dry river-beds.

Nevertheless, main problems in the coastal areas include lack of health and education facilities.

According to Dr Suleman Otho of the city government, many deaths occur, especially among women and children, even in coastal areas of Karachi due to insufficient health facilities.

Keamari Town Nazim Zulfiqar Younas, who is also a resident of Sandspit area, deplored that doctors and paramedics did not like to work in this far-flung area.

He said that the Town had also extended facilities to the health department even though it was under the city government but there has not been any improvement in these facilities.

Town health officer Dr Ashraf blamed lack of better incentives to doctors as the reason for their reluctance to serve in dispensaries situated in different villages.

However, private practitioners can be found in different areas in Sandspit to Hawkesbay, while it is hard to find any in Rehri area.

The most common ailments faced by people of coastal areas are fever, rheumatism, malaria and stomach problems.

Ironically, the peak tourist season in Sandspit, Hawkesbay and Cape Monze is May to Aug, whereas these months are off season for fishing, which is banned in June and July, reducing the fishermen community to starvation.—PPI