Anti-dengue measures ordered

LAHORE
Secretary Health Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik has asked the officers of government departments that the weather condition is very favourable for dengue breeding after rains therefore all the departments should remain fully alert and continue anti-dengue activities vigorously.
He said this while presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Eradication of Dengue, according to a handout issued on Monday. Members Provincial Assembly Pir Ashraf Rasool and Mrs. Kiran Dar besides senior officers of all the government departments, Director General Health Punjab, officers of PITB, Pakistan Railways, Sui Gas and other federal departments attended the meeting. DCOs Lahore and Sheikhupura were present on the occasion whereas Commissioners of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala and EDO Health attended the meeting through vide link.
DCO Lahore Capt. (Retd) Muhammad Usman told the media that dengue surveillance teams had been increased in Lahore due to which dengue surveillance had further improved and larvae had been reported in large quantity. He further told the media that 172 cases had been registered on the violation of dengue regulations during the current month. Commissoners of Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala gave briefings about the activities being carried out for creating awareness regarding dengue as well as indoor and outdoor surveillance for controlling dengue in their respective divisions.
The Secretary Health directed the DCO Sheikhupura to arrange clean-sweep of dengue at Imamia Colony and Rana Town. He directed that the departments concerned should conduct clean-sweep in red alert union councils so that larvae breeding should be eliminated. The meeting reviewed the arrangements of treatment of dengue patients besides dengue surveillance at government hospitals. Secretary Health directed that foolproof arrangements should be made for treatment of dengue patients. Officers of Pakistan Railways, Auqaf, Irrigation, Agriculture, PITB, Environment, Meteorological, Forest, Fisheries Departments presented their progress reports.
The Secretary Health constituted a committee of the officers of Irrigation, WASA, Solid Waste Management besides other departments who would arrange the de-silting of Charar drain passing through Badian Road. The Secretary Health told the media that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was personally monitoring anti-dengue activities. He said that an effective public awareness campaign should be launched as community participation was very essential to overcome dengue.
Cleanliness: Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has resumed its awareness programme in educational institutions of the city right after the summer vocation have come to an end. Officials said awareness programme for students of schools, colleges and universities of both public and private sector, was aimed at raising awareness among people about LWMC method of cleaning city’s nook and corner and sensitising them to ensure compliance with standard methods of disposing of garbage so that state of cleanliness could be maintained through their responsible role.
Campaigns under awareness programme include lectures, seminars, screening of documentaries/cartoon film based on LWMC operations and significance of cleanliness, setting up of camps for registration and resolution of waste related complaints, question & answer session, quiz competitions, campus cleanup operations and machinery demonstration.
The LWMC communication team representing Muhammad Umair Khan along with social mobilisers held an awareness activity in LDA Boys Model High School, Sabzazar and delivered an interactive lecture, precautionary measures to control dengue larvae and citizens’ role in the maintenance of clean environment.
According to LWMC’s spokesperson, Jamil Khawar, all educational institutions i.e. primary, middle and high schools running under City district administration will specifically be tapped besides targeting all major colleges and universities across the city.
Meeting: Punjab Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal on Monday chaired a meeting to review arrangements for an international seminar on business opportunities in Punjab.
Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary said that there were vast opportunities of investment in Punjab. He said practical measures were being taken to promote foreign investment and economic activities in the province. He said that the international seminar will help highlight investment and business opportunities. He directed that best arrangements be ensured for the international moot. He also ordered departments to prepare project-based proposals for foreign investment opportunities in different sectors. The Secretary Communication and Works gave detailed briefing to the meeting.