Daily Times

The people of Achro Thar thanked the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for providing them with potable water through the ‘Shaheed Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto Fresh Water Project’ (SMBBFW) which was inaugurated by the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on March 31, 2018.

While talking to Daily Times villagers of Kak in UC Ranak Daher, said that they were grateful to Shazia Marri for providing them with sweet water. “We pray for her the moment we come to have water from here,” added a villager.

Kak, a village with approximately 800 residents, is one village out of the 101 villages benefiting from SMBBFW project. Due to the project, residents of Kak and other nearby villages can draw water from a tank with a storage capacity 30,000 gallons.

Rajarr, a resident of Kak told the Daily Times that there was no sweet water in the area before the project. He said that the villagers did not have to travel for miles to obtain water now. “After this project very few villagers got sick due to the unavailability of potable water. We don’t suffer like we used to,” Rajarr said

“The water is delicious and free of cost and Shazia has done a great job but my vote is not for her,” said Rajarr.

‘Shaheed Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto Fresh Water’ was a scheme initiated by Sindh Irrigation Department in Jamal Abad to ensure the provision of safe drinking water to the surrounding villages.

According to the Project Engineer the cost of the project was estimated to be 2.88 billion with three years maintenance. Haji Siraj Uddin Somroo is contractor of this project. The project was commenced on 13th July, 2015 with completion period of 3 years. The project was inaugurated by the PPP Chairman earlier this year.

Under the project water pipelines cover 2 UCs including Rank Deher and Kamil Hingoro. 106 villages with a population of 30000 will be beneficiaries of the project. The scheme was designed for an estimated population of 60,000 and it is expected to cater to the needs of the population for 30 years.

According to the scheme specification, 101 villages towards the border area and 5 Rangers check posts are being benefited from the scheme. The main pipe line spreads over 56 km, while enrooted lines cover an area of 185 km. Main pumping station is at UC Bhitt Bhaitti, Jamal Abad.

Every village gets a tank as 106 water tanks have been constructed in villages. These tanks have a storage capacity of 5,000 to 50,000 gallons.

While speaking to Daily Times on Wednesday Shazia Marri former MNA from this constituency said that there were spiritual followers Pir Pagara in her constituency. “But during my tenure as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), I have worked across board for the betterment of the area,” she added.

“Functional League ruled Sanghar for over 60 years, but they delivered nothing and due to this act Functional League’s voters are willing to join PPP”, said Shazia.

Shazia informed the Daily Times that 2,000 homes had also been provided solar units and schools were being constructed in the off grid areas of the desert.

She also stated that she had worked hard to bring gas to Khipro and a large number of PPP vote-bank was in her constituency. She claimed that those who did not vote in the last elections were ready to vote for her.

Shazia said that previous federal government denied PPP’s request for the provision of gas to Khipro city despite the fact Sanghar was a gas producing district.

“This city is deprived of gas which is in violation of Article 158 of our Constitution, therefore, I will fight to bring gas to Khipro in future since gas is a basic need of the people,” vowed Marri.

“My future plan for Achhro Thar is to facilitate the construction of more schools and health unit. The construction of a main road in Achhro Thar is under consideration too,” Marri revealed.

General Secretary PPP Khipro, Umar Gul Hingorjo said that people had seen change and service delivery during the tenure of Shazia Marri that was why even some followers of Pir Pagara wanted to support the PPP.

Hingorjo, while praising Shazia Marri said that she had done a tremendous job during her tenure. He informed that 196 schools were running on solar systems and over 2000 solar systems had been installed. He added that 2 dispensaries had also been opened up in UC Ranak Daher.

Published in Daily Times, June 16^th 2018.