MULTAN, July 24: Besides harsh climatic conditions, the people of Cholistan have to suffer some other hardships as well which originate mostly from official neglect and apathy.

Union council 107, one of the seven UCs of the area, epitomises the general misery of the local population which has to go without basic amenities like clean water and education facilities.

The UC nazim, Rai Ghulam Hasan, told APP that a girls middle school at Chak 148-DB under his jurisdiction was being run with only three female teachers. Despite repeated `requests’ made to the authorities concerned to post at least five more teachers at the school, no step was taken to improve the situation, he deplored.

He said local people were keenly interested in educating their children, including daughters, and more than 100 girl students were enrolled at the school, but their studies were suffering because of paucity of teaching staff.

He said the boys too were no exception, as despite availability of a middle school building no staff had been appointed by the education department.

He also sought government’s help for regular desilting of ‘tobas’ (rainwater ponds) which were the lifeline for local people and their cattle.

He also demanded that Ladam Sar and Salari minors be brick-lined in order to prevent frequent breaches. He also sought that these water courses be made perennial in stead of seasonal.—APP