CM Punjab does not want see dangue

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that controlling the possible outbreak of dengue virus for protection of human lives is more important than the Eid happinesses. He said that Eid’s delights can be increased by serving the masses. He said that the staff of all concerned departments will also perform duties during Eid holidays, whereas elected representatives will monitor the anti-dengue arrangements personally during the Eid days.

He was presiding over a meeting of Cabinet Committee for eradication of dengue, here today. Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Advisor Salman Rafique, Members National and Provincial Assembly, Additional Chief Secretary, secretaries of various departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore, DG LDA, experts and other senior officers attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that arrangements for coping with the possible outbreak of dengue have been given final shape in the provincial metropolis during Eid holidays. He said that Emergency Response Committees have been fully activated in nine towns. The Chief Minister directed that the attendance of the staff working under Emergency Response Committees should be ensured at all cost and strict action should be taken against those who remain absent. He said that effective eradication of dengue mosquito is possible through elimination of its larvae, therefore, in case of finding dengue larvae, the concerned sensitive place should be protected by adopting preventive measures. He directed that there should be no negligence in carrying out the process of spray and fogging on sensitive places.

The Chief Minister ordered immediate suspension of TMO Gulberg Town and other staff responsible for showing negligence in checking of under-construction plazas. He said that keeping in view the experience of previous year, there is no scope of any mistake this time. He directed that cleanliness arrangements be ensured in private schools and those private schools which have failed to take anti-dengue steps should be sealed. The Chief Minister said that there are threats of existing of dengue larvae at industrial units. He directed Secretary Industries to ensure anti-dengue arrangements in the factories throughout the province, including Lahore. He said that cooperation of the people for overcoming dengue is of utmost importance, therefore an awareness campaign among the citizens should be launched in this regard. Shahbaz Sharif said that publicity campaign for eradication of dengue through billboards, banners and flexes on prominent places be launched. He directed that immediate disposal of rainwater standing at low-lying areas be ensured and proper treatment with chemical be arranged so that larvae could not breed in water. The Chief Minister said that keeping in view of the report of the presence of larvae at Railway Colony Lahore, special attention should be paid to the elimination of larvae there. While issuing orders for immediately drying up of water at all decorative fountains, the Chief Minister said that swimming pools should be made dengue-free through use of chemicals. He said that the fish should be released for elimination of dengue larvae where rainwater is standing in large quantity. He said that warehouses would be constructed for storing anti-dengue equipments in big cities within two months. He directed that the process of imparting training to volunteers for controlling the likely outbreak of dengue virus should be accelerated. Medical Expert Dr. Faisal Masood informed the meeting that at present dengue situation is far better than the previous year. He said that last year, hundreds of people were affected due to dengue during the same period, whereas due to best preventive arrangements, now the situation is under control.

Secretaries of concerned departments gave detailed briefings to the Chief Minister about the steps taken for eradication of dengue.