Overshadowed

By Dawn Editor, *Poor Planning* - Dawn.com - Karachi, Pakistan
Friday, August 21, 2009

The annual urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandaer in Sehwan concluded on Wednesday with certain government officials claiming that the arrangements this year surpassed those in earlier years.

If that is so, we wonder just how abysmal the situation used to be. Consider the fact that for the gathering of hundreds of thousands of devotees, the local administration saw fit to establish only six medical camps.

These camps supplemented the services offered by the taluka hospital, Sehwan, where just three doctors and 10 paramedical staff were available. And while these meagre measures were bolstered by a further three medical camps set up by private humanitarian organisations, the arrangements were nevertheless grossly insufficient for the needs of the over 25,000 patients who sought medical aid during the three-day festival.

Most of these patients suffered from dehydration, heatstroke and various forms of water-borne illnesses. This is hardly surprising since little effort had been made to cater to the predictable basic needs of the gathered thousands: clean drinking water, hygiene and a functioning sewage system.

There was reportedly a breakdown of cooperation between the taluka municipal administration staff, the district administration and the mela committee. As a result, the celebrations were overshadowed by continuously overflowing drains and a severe shortage of clean water. Additionally, there were complaints of drug abuse, gambling and devotees being fleeced at police checkpoints.

The Sehwan urs and other such festivals are regular annual occurrences and the massive number of devotees they attract is well-known. It does not take much to predict the scale of arrangements required.

With a little planning on the part of the area administrations, such gatherings could become a source of revenue, in addition to celebrating the spirit of Sufism.

At the moment, however, they constitute breeding grounds for illness, criminality and delinquency.

Picture: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah laying chaddar on the mazar of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on the concluding of 757th urs celebrations. Photo: APP.