NGOs in Pakistan say the death of at least 132 children in a drought in Sindh province might have been avoided had the government responded sooner. As government aid begins to arrive in the area, local activists have linked the crisis to long-term failures to provide proper health care and infrastructure in the region.
The deaths occurred in the Thar desert, part of Tharparkar district, some 350km (200 miles) from Karachi, which runs up to the border with India.
KARACHI: Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and members of his group enjoyed quite a feast when they paid a visit to Tharparkar, with some saying the dinner at Circuit House Mithi was akin to a 'wedding feast'.
The CM and his team reportedly enjoyed a dinner of fried fish, tikkas, biryani, malai boti, koftas and roti.
According to a report by Express News, the CM was accompanied by members of his cabinet and other officials.
He was visiting the drought-stricken area to pay his condolences to affected families. Guests at the dinner jostled with each other for more food, setting aside all etiquette.
There is a famous saying that Nero was fiddling his violin while Rome burned. One wonders if any depiction of this thousand year old saying can be found today and if you look hard enough, Pakistan is a country where rulers vie to prove this saying true.
While the possibility of death from starvation has been stalking over two hundred thousand people in the desert region of Tharparkar in southern Pakistan, authorities were busy spending billions on promoting the cultural heritage of the same region and setting new, useless, records in youth festivals. They finally turned their attention towards Tharparkar after the opposition leaders created an uproar over media reports that hundreds of people have been starved to death, of whom the majority were children.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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