Tackling Thar

This refers to the editorial, ‘Tackling Thar’ (May 2). Drought is the key problem of Thar, and is keeping the region hugely backward and the population poverty stricken. If canals are built to carry water to the length and breadth of the area, agriculture will thrive, reducing economic deprivation of the people of the area. With focus on agriculture, other trading, commercial and
industrial activities will also spring up.

If Rajasthan in India can be turned into a prosperous region by building water projects, there is no reason why this cannot be replicated in Thar. The problem is that our rulers are more interested in building mega schemes that provide an easy avenue of corruption. The Sindh government seems to have no concern for the poor and downtrodden. I do not foresee that the miseries of Tharis will end soon.

Huma Arif

Karachi