In a meeting to review measures to control the dengue virus on Tuesday, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif urged elected members to play an active role to eliminate the dengue virus and asked them to personally supervise arrangements to address this important problem.
Shahbaz constituted an emergency committee, chaired by him, to review measures to eradicate the dengue virus. He also directed formation of emergency committees headed by elected representatives in nine towns of Lahore. These meetings would hold daily meetings at 7am, he said. The chief minister said all necessary funds would be provided for this purpose and asked the health secretary to immediately submit recommendations for purchase of medicines, machines and other necessary items.
Shahbaz said a comprehensive and consolidated plan was needed to overcome this challenge and asked all institutions concerned to initiate joint efforts. He said the government was utilising all available resources, adding that cooperation of the masses was also very important. He said elected members should mobilise union council workers to create awareness among people, adding that people should be persuaded to get their houses sprayed. He said people had high hopes from elected members, who must cancel other engagements at this stage and should work at eliminating the dengue virus. He asked elected members to personally ensure sprays in their respective areas.
Shahbaz said assembly members should also visit hospitals in their respective towns to review medical facilities for dengue patients. He said town emergency committees would be fully authorised and would comprise local members of national and provincial assemblies, in addition to senior-most officers of the towns. He said town committees’ heads would need to attend the daily meetings and would be required to submit a report on the measures taken in their respective towns.
