Recent media coverage of Thar famine and the response of major political forces in Pakistan once again proves that politics is a dirty game. As the desert region faces drought and famine, politicians are scrambling to score points and make political gains by feeding on the misery of people. The central government, led by Nawaz Sharif, has hammered the Sindh government’s response to the emergency and could order a judicial inquiry into the deaths. The provincial chief minister was mocked for his extensive protocol and royal lunch in the disaster-hit area. While relief activities were yet to be carried out in some of the region’s remotest areas, his contingent enjoyed princely facilities and made promises of reviving the poverty-stricken areas.
Bilawal Bhutto, the young PPP leader who recently led cultural celebrations in the province, faces a stern test in this situation. Although he has directed relief and rehabilitation operations in the area, the response of democratically elected representatives from the area has been flayed by all. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif has announced an aid package of about Rs.1 billion for the calamity-hit area. The death toll in Tharparkar has climbed to over 200, including more than 30 children, while about 175,000 families have been forced to migrate from the Thar districts. Besides agriculture, livestock remains one of the main sources of livelihood for inhabitants of Thar. Unfortunately, the region received much lower rainfall and vaccination of farm animals remained limited in 2013. Although the region has benefited from unprecedented development of infrastructure over the last decade, fruits of this progress have not trickled down to the grass-roots level. Compared to other parts of the country, Thar remains one of the most backward and food insecure regions.
Figures of National Nutrition Survey reveal that almost 60 percent of Pakistan’s population faces food insecurity. To make matters worse, future prospects remain bleak as half of women and children are malnourished. Further, the 35 percent of child deaths under the age of five due to malnutrition points toward a national emergency. In collaboration with several non-governmental agencies, the administration has launched hectic relief efforts in the area. However, it is important that these efforts efficiently alleviate the suffering of all those people severely impacted by the famine. The case of Thar is a timely reminder to the government to ensure that food security remains a top priority. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the phenomena of climate change and research on the subject should be promoted to save agricultural sector.
For the long term, there is a dire need to focus on enhancing agricultural productivity by adopting efficient farming methods and vaccinating the livestock. Medical and health facilities should be made easily accessible for the people so that they can make a greater contribution to the country’s growth. By promoting vocational training, the government can also reduce unemployment and enable the region’s population to tap other income-earning options. The government’s slow response and development plan for the Thar district should come under close scrutiny as it remains affected by famine and drought every two or three years. The government needs to develop a sound strategy to prevent such disasters in future by identifying their root causes.
