PM’s constituency at high risk of dengue, malaria outbreak

LAHORE: Like other parts of the city, the rain on Tuesday not only sank number of areas falling in VIP constituencies of the city but also exposed tall claims of emergency management from elected representatives as well as CDGL officials.
The constituencies belonging to noted leaders including NA-119 from where Hamza Shahbaz Sharif is the sitting MNA and NA-120, from where none other than Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif has been elected seemed worst affected with rain and local people once again couldn’t find MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, who is also MPA from PP-141.
The areas including Gol Ground, Shadbagh, corporation dispensary, three roads, Do Moriya Pul, Aziz Road, Misrihah, Minar-e-Pakistan Road near Sheranwala were heavily affected from rain. On most of these roads and adjoining areas, water accumulated at knee dip level or even more which caused traffic mess and added to the problems of citizens.
Wasa staffers, however, were found working in areas like Misrishah, Sheranwala but in most of the other parts, the sanitary workers were not available. The News tried to contacted Hamza Shahbaz and Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, the two elected representatives of the areas but neither of them picked up the phone. Besides, in the area of Lakshmi Chowk, Nisbat Road, which partially belong to NA-120 as well as NA-119, roads were heavily flooded due to rain.
Wasa had installed pumps to remove water. However, the most alarming situation was seen in the area of Shafiqabad, near Ravi Road which falls in NA-120 and PP-139 (sitting MPA Bilal Yasin) where despite high threat of dengue, malaria and other outbreak, no measures such as spray, fumigation or even an awareness campaign has been initiated among local people, majority of whom are living alongside of the Ravi bed. What added to the woes of local people was once again the apathetic attitude of the elected representatives, whom PML-N has awarded important offices but nothing seemed to have benefited the people struggling against basic facilities of life.
The area of Shafiqabad, situated near Bund Road reflects the true picture of neglect as for months, water accumulated in big grounds and plots is not removed from Wasa staffers which eventually proves a constant source of mosquito breeding. Local people complain that not a single time, they have found their MPA Bilal Yasin among them for years.
Bilal Yasin, also a relative of Sharif family, was elected MPA from this area in 2002 general elections. He was awarded MNA ticket in 2008 from NA-120, the seat of the present PM, which he won again and in 2013 he was fielded for the third time from the same area on provincial seat which he won again. Bilal has also served as Vice Chairman Wasa in 1998. Currently, he is Punjab minister, but situation of the area, which should be serving as a Model Constituency owing to the association of political heavyweights with this part seems quite opposite.
“Time and again we have approached him to seek his attention but of no avail” said Umer Farooq, a student belonging to Shafiqabad area while complaining against the attitude of the MPA towards their woes.
The Devil-May-Care attitude of the politicians as well as officials came under criticism from almost every local resident when The News team visited the area, which is situated some miles away from the track from where Metro Bus service continues.
“Nobody comes here to remove water from the roads, large pile of garbage from streets, not a single time any spray has been done here,” said Nazeer, a local resident.MPA Bilal Yasin was also contacted by The News but he didn’t pick up the phone.
Wasa vice-chairman Ch Shahbaz Ahmed and District Coordination Officer Usman Younis were the only two officials who picked up the phone and explained their respective positions regarding the issues.
Ch Shahbaz Ahmed, who is also MPA from PP-143, while talking to The News said measures were taken to remove water from the 52 sensitive points of Lahore. He said he along with other officials remained on duty and personally visited the areas where complaints were heard. He said water had started to recede from most of the areas and situation would improve with the passage of time.
DCO Usman Younis while talking to The News over the threats of epidemic outbreak in Shafiqabad and other adjoining areas stated that due measures would be taken to address the issue. Regarding dengue, he said without the approval from the cabinet committee, spray or fumigation couldn’t be carried out, adding in this season, these measures are not taken for citizens’ safety. For malaria and other outbreaks, he said all required steps would be taken.