PHC tells K-P govt to act against dengue during Eid

Include measures to protect environment in PC-1 of new projects

PESHAWAR: As the dengue epidemic in the province claimed 12 lives, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to take immediate steps to control the spread of dengue fever in the provincial capital.

The court has also directed the government to ensure that dengue control and prevention efforts continue during the Eidul Azha holidays.



A two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Qalandar Ali Khan and Justice Nasir Mehfooz heard the writ petition filed by Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel.

Kakakhel had urged the high court to direct the government to take solid steps to protect the public against dengue.



The lawyer contended that hundreds of people were suffering from the virus in the city and several have lost their lives. He added that under-construction projects had become a den of mosquitoes in the city and are helping spread the dengue virus.

He argued that the state was responsible for providing healthcare facilities to the public since they are paying large amounts of money in the form of direct and indirect taxes.

Hence, the lawyer urged the court to direct the respondents - the provincial government- to undertake immediate efforts to ensure healthcare facilities are provided to the public.



“Everyone is accountable to the public, including the government,” said Justice Khan while hearing the arguments on Thursday.

Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Saqib Raza Aslam, who appeared before the court, said that “we have met immense success in eliminating the virus from most parts of the city.”

He added that around 43,000 houses were fumigated against the dengue virus in the affected areas. However, he conceded that in the event of rain in the city, the situation worsens and more people are infected.



The court directed the provincial government to take emergency steps to control the virus, especially during the Eidul Azha holidays.

Moreover, the court also directed the government to include measures to protect environmental degradation in the PC-1 of new projects undertaken in the city.

The court will now take up the case again on September 12.