The Punjab Civil Secretariat will be open on Sunday (today) as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will launch dengue awareness campaign, Pakistan Today has learnt. All administrative secretaries have been directed to ensure their presence on the launch of the dengue awareness campaign today, besides creating awareness among the employees of their respective departments on controlling dengue.
A senior official, seeking anonymity, said, “It is a national duty in which all are participating. Secretariat has remained opened on a Sunday in the past on certain occasions as well.” However, the government should have focused on giving the workforce some rest for a day at least because senior health officials were already serving until late hours and other departments were also working till late in this regard, he added.
“Administrative secretaries are all educated and are already well aware of cleanliness and prevention methods. Their efforts could have been utilised towards other ends as well instead of listening to speeches and clapping for photographs,” the official said. Another senior government official further informed that video CDs on dengue prevention methods have been disseminated across the province in all government departments including the establishment in districts across Punjab.
He said the CDs contained all material on dengue prevention and treatment and cure and all department heads had been tasked with making their employees aware of these methods. “The secretariat has been selected as a nucleus of disseminating information to other wings. The next step will be to make the people aware of the steps taken,” he added.