THE worsening condition of the infrastructure, government offices, flood-affected people, schools and communities in Sanghar district calls for attention of the government. Although the flood caused havoc in the area, there are a number of things that cannot be blamed on floods, particularly the condition of the city’s depleted roads and streets, ponds of stagnant water in government buildings, growing child labour, and the absence of any civic bodies. All these show that there is no governance in the district.

Where are the elected representatives of Sanghar? Have they ever visited their constituencies? I was surprised that most of the elected representatives are from the ruling coalition, including the provincial information minister and the federal anti-narcotics minister. I have been to some 60 to 70 districts of Pakistan but haven’t been to a place with such poor infrastructure and governance.

Ponds of stagnant floodwater could be seen across the district and even in district headquarters, in district education and social welfare offices, and in a huge number of schools across the district with no dewatering initiatives.

According to some sources, Rs14.50 million was spent only on diesel purchase for dewatering-related activities. The money is all spent but the water is still there. Where was the money spent?

On top of this, the UN has been told that emergency is over and it should wind up its emergency programmes. When a basic component of flood emergency, dewatering could not be done, how then is the emergency over?

There are more than 100 cotton factories, match factories, a sugar mill, brick kilns, etc., but there has been no labour officer in the district for the last many years. Who will ensure effective implementation of labour laws, including minimum wage laws?

Gender disparity is high in education, and corporal punishment is widely prevalent. Despite the presence of bonded labour, the District Vigilance Committee is not functional and no practical steps have been taken to respond to the menace of bonded labour in the district. May I request the elected representatives of Sanghar to visit their constituencies and help the people get out of these miseries before they get them out of their comfortable offices?

ARSHAD MAHMOOD Islamabad