Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that no negligence would be tolerated in the eradication of dengue and the departments concerned should ensure the strict implementation of the plan devised for curbing the virus in its real sense.
He said that the cooperation of the Lahoriites was of utmost importance in rooting out dengue and in promoting the campaign for enhanced public awareness.
He was addressing a high-level meeting to review measures for controlling dengue. Provincial Ministers, Assembly Members, Departmental Secretaries and various experts attended the meeting which continued for more than two hours.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government had written history by defeating dengue during the last few years and the struggle against this menace would continue in the future as well.
He said that dengue control in other countries affected by this virus had taken several decades but Punjab accomplished an almost impossible task in an extremely short time due to an effective strategy, immense courage and unprecedented determination.
He said that the government departments concerned, doctors, paramedical staff and the masses extended commendable cooperation in this regard. He said that greater efforts would have to be made this year to curtail the outbreak of this disease in future.
He said that special teams comprising officials of all departments were operating in all the towns of Lahore for dengue’s eradication. Reviewing the anti-dengue measures adopted in various towns, Shahbaz directed the authorities concerned to accelerate anti-dengue activities in those towns where dengue larva was found in abundance.
He directed the administration of effective measures in Ravi Town for this purpose. He said that shops of old tyres should be checked closely while a complete survey of government godowns should also be conducted to ascertain the measures taken for the eradication of dengue.
Furthermore, he directed the Local Government Secretary to submit a report on the elimination of dengue larva from graveyards in the next meeting.
Earlier, provincial secretaries and Lahore’s Commissioner gave detailed briefings regarding the steps taken for the elimination of the virus.
The Environment Secretary informed the meetings attendants that more than 5,000 sites including tyre shops, godowns and nurseries had been inspected and 59 cases against violators had been registered.
