HYDERABAD: A Pakistan Peoples Party leader tasked with the relief operation in the drought-hit Thar area has said that the Sindh government would provide free-of-cost land to investors in Thar for setting up industrial units.

Taj Haider, the chief minister’s coordinator on relief operation, told a seminar Development of Thar: challenges/opportunities on Sunday that the provincial government would organse the Thar Festival on May 24 in Karachi.

The seminar was organised by the local PPP chapter at the Hyderabad Club. Livestock Minister Jam Khan Shoro, PPP leaders Shagufta Jumani, Aajiz Dhamra, Zahid Bhurgari, Awami Jamhori Party leader Abrar Kazi, and others also spoke.

Mr Haider said that the Thar Festival was being organised to promote handicrafts, music and culture of Thar.

He admitted that there was a crisis of governance when it was seen in the backdrop of underutilisation of resources. “When 40 doctors can come from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to serve community why can’t Thar’s own people don’t work there,” he asked.

He said in Thar there were 6.5 million animals and they were getting fodder, which showed that the soil was getting moisture to produce fodder.

He said in terms of water Thar was said to have the largest groundwater resource — 1 billion acre feet to 1.5 billion acre feet.

He said that 150 reverse osmosis (RO) plants would be provided by June while 750 plants were to be provided under a scheme.

He said that the government would provide 20 acres each to the women peasantry of Thar free of cost.

Attaching great importance to strengthening conventional economy of Thar, he emphasised the need for availability of fodder, which played an important role in the area’s economy.

Camping lands are to be identified for tourism purposes instead of hotels or motels. “The Sindh government will offer land free of cost to investors if they set up industrial units in Thar.”

He added that the housing sector was on top priority of the government and the “chauhra” (abode of residents of Thar) would be replaced with concrete houses.

About Thar coal, he said that experts termed the availability of coal in 100 metres depth and surrounded by water as a blessing in disguise.

Concerted efforts could change the destiny of Thar and everyone would have to be on the same page for it because it would bring Thar at par with Europe in just 10 years, he said.

Jam Khan Shoro highlighted the issue of health infrastructure and unavailability of local doctors.

MNA Shagufta Jumani claimed that the famine situation in Thar was blown out of proportion by the media.

Senator Aajiz Dhamra said that rainwater harvesting and storage techniques should be introduced in Thar.

Arbar Kazi said that rural-urban collaboration was needed to ensure development in Sindh. Khokharapar route was important for economic prosperity, involving trade with India while fears of migration from this route could be addressed by reforming domicile issuance system, he added.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority chief Salman Shah said that different working groups were preparing their vrecommendations in the backdrop of Thar’s recent famine.