Pak: Woman, four minor daughters die after 'consuming' toxic food

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In Pakistan's Punjab province, a woman and four of her children died after consuming poisonous food. The news agency IANS cited ARY News report stating that the incident happened in Punjab's Tandlianwala.

The victims were identified as three-year-old Farzana, four-year-old Aqsa, five-year-old Rukhsana, eight-year-old Muskan, and their 34-year-old mother Muskan, the IANS report stated.

The deaths occurred in Tandlianwala, which is 40 kilometres from Faisalabad and 45 kilometres from Okara, according to ARY News. The bodies were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital, as confirmed by police. This event is identical to one that occurred on April 5 in Toba Tek Singh, where four family members died after drinking poisoned tea, reported IANS.

According to the news agency report, in Toba Tek Singh, six-year-old Ali, seven-year-old Iqra, and 22-year-old Sania died as a result of the deadly tea, while their mother and minor girls were sent to a neighbouring hospital in severe condition. Sadly, 18-year-old Madiha died from her injuries.

According to Dawn, critics and people in Pakistan have long expressed concern about the quality of government-run hospitals and public-sector healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) acting as healthcare professionals abuse poor individuals for financial gain, exacerbating the country's healthcare crisis, the report added.

This exploitation weakens trust in healthcare institutions and necessitates immediate inspection and regulation of Pakistan's healthcare industry. Without strong actions, the healthcare system's perilous situation would deteriorate, exacerbating the suffering of those in need. Dawn reported on the grave situation.