KARACHI - After the loss of more than 150 children’s lives in Thar famine, the Sindh chief minister has finally come into action by snatching the portfolio of Relief Department from Makhdoom Jameel Zaman, who is the son of PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim. Relief commissioner Lala Fazul Rehman was also removed over his negligence in providing wheat to the famine-hit area.
The notification of the changes made in the portfolios of the minister as well as removal of the relief commissioner was issued on late Tuesday night. However, Makhdoom Jameel Zaman will continue as a minister in the Sindh cabinet.
PPP Sindh’s general secretary and former Senator Taj Haider was assigned the portfolio of Relief and Rehabilitation Department as advisor to CM. Mr Haider is currently heading the committee made for distributing relief aid from the Sindh government in Thar area. Besides, the government has appointed Ilamuddin Bullo as senior member board of revenue/relief commissioner with immediate effect. The decision was taken due to the negligence of two officials in the relief operations of Thar drought, government sources said.
They said former president Asif Ali Zardari and the top leadership of Pakistan People’s Party were angry over the administration officials for being ignorant of the situation in Thar region. Zardari has instructed the party leadership to provide relief to the drought-stricken areas on immediate basis.
However, Makhdoom Amin Fahim by declaring his son Makhdoom Amin Fahim innocent alleged that it was the failure of overall Sindh government which failed in providing wheat to the drought-affected people.
Amin Fahim in his media interviews has alleged that Makhdoom Jameel Zaman, being the minister, was helpless as he was not authorised to transfer any Mukhtiarkar or low grade officer of his department. The sacked minister Makhdoom Jameel Zaman claimed that he already sent summary to the Finance Department to release the funds so that wheat can be transported to the affected area but the finance department is run under the advisor to CM for finance Murad Ali Shah, who is the son of former Sindh CM late Abdullah Shah.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has not taken any action against the finance advisor and department’s secretary as food minister Jam Mahtab Dahar was failed in responding on time to save the people from the acute impact of drought in Thar.
Meanwhile, the death toll of children is increasing in Thar area where two more children died on Wednesday. The Sindh government has issued a red alert for seven more districts, directing the district administrations to take measures before the drought started showing its impact there.
The Rehabilitation Department in its letter to the district administration and provincial departments concerned issued red alert for Badin, Thatta, Dadu, Ghotki, Khairpur, Umerkot and Sanghar.
The rehabilitation department has suggested the district administration and concerned departments to start preparation for vaccinations of livestock and other necessary steps in their areas.
According to the reports reaching here, the situation is worsening in Thar area as all claims of the government are just in air because majority of the area especially the rural areas are deprived of any relief aid from the government and private sector.