KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the health secretary and other provincial authorities to submit within two weeks a report elaborating the measures they have taken in the light of Thar commission report to address drought-like situation in parts of desert district of Tharparkar, ARY News reported.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M. Shaikh was hearing a petition against the Sindh government for failing to provide famine relief to the drought-hit areas.
During hearing, the chief justice asked health secretary Dr Fazalullah Pechuho and other officials to explain as to what steps they have taken to implement the Thar commission report.
The health secretary replied they were implementing the commission’s recommendations and sought further time to submit a detailed report in that regard.
The Government of Sindh had set up a commission to probe the drought-like situation, the recurring deaths of children, and the response of the authorities to the drought crisis.
In its report, the commission had blamed the provincial departments of health, education, irrigation, livestock, population welfare, agriculture, rehabilitation, revenue, tourism, forests and wildlife for worsening situation in Thar.
It had found the frequent transfers and postings of officers in the government departments and early marriages primarily responsible for the children’s death in the arid region.
