Punjab Chief Minister holds Video Conference from Berlin to review dengue situation

Lahore, October 29, 2013 (PPI-OT): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has ordered that an effective strategy be adopted for curbing dengue on the pattern of last year due to which no human life was lost. He directed that the best medical facilities be provided to the dengue patients in hospitals. He warned that those showing negligence in anti-dengue campaign would not be spared.

He further instructed that emergency meetings with regard to dengue be held at 8.00 am daily and a report be submitted to him on regular basis. He said in addition to Lahore, measures should be taken on emergent basis in Rawalpindi as well for eradication of dengue. The Chief Minister said that he would personally review dengue situation and the steps taken in this regard by holding a video conference in Rawalpindi tomorrow.

The Chief Minister expressed these views through a video conference from Berlin (Germany) at a meeting held at Chief Minister’s Secretariat to review dengue situation and steps taken for coping with this problem in the province. Provincial Ministers, Commissioner and District Coordination Officer Lahore, secretaries of various departments and experts were present.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that elected representatives and concerned officials should visit mohallahs and streets instead of sitting in their offices and play an active role in anti-dengue campaign as well as inform him of the measures taken in this regard on daily basis.

He said that Commissioner and DCO Lahore should visit the affected areas and use Dengue Brigade and send him a detailed report regarding the measures taken for dealing with this menace. He warned that no laxity or negligence would be tolerated in the drive against dengue.

He directed that all out resources be utilized in the war against dengue and the causes of increase in the number of dengue patients be ascertained as well as it should be determined whether it was due to negligence on someone’s part.

He said that facts should not be concealed and people should be informed about the situation on daily basis through media. He said that he would address a meeting on dengue in Rawalpindi tomorrow and personally review the arrangements.

Provincial Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed and Health Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu gave a briefing to the Chief Minister on dengue situation. They informed that two deaths have been reported so far in the province due to dengue and an inquiry is being held to look into the causes. Medical experts informed that due to changing weather and outbreak of dengue in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa and Karachi Punjab has also been affected and the number of dengue patients has risen.

For more information, contact:
Chief Minister of Punjab
Chief Minister Secretariat
7-Club Road
GOR-I, Lahore
Telephone: 042-99204906-14, 042-99203222-3
Fax: 042-99204915, 042-99203224