Murad Ali Shah admits response to Dadu fire was 'very slow'.

ISLAMABAD -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah admitted on Thursday that the response to the village fire in Dadu district on April 18 was "very slow" and vowed to punish whoever was responsible.

Nine children were burnt to death and more than 20 other men and women suffered severe burns when a fire raged through Faiz Mohammad Daryani Chandio village and reduced all 50 houses and everything present inside to ashes. Around 150 buffaloes, cows, goats and other animals also perished in the fire. In two other similar incidents of fire within the district, over 60 houses were destroyed and dozens of animals perished.

Talking to the media in Islamabad on Thursday after appearing before the accountability court in Nooriabad power plant corruption reference, Syed Murad Ali Shah said the fire brigade of the municipality closest to the village - which is located some 30 kilometres from the Mehar town of Dadu district - was damaged because of which fire tenders had to be mobilised from other areas.

"I admit that the response was very slow and whoever is responsible [will be punished]. Our job is to provide immediate relief to people."

The chief minister said the deputy commissioner and the local administration provided cooked food to the affected people...