Govt to provide vans to neuter stray dogs
PHOTO: MEHMOOD QURESHI/EXPRESS
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has agreed to provide six dog catcher vans to an animal welfare organisation to catch and neuter stray dogs.
The matter came up in a meeting chaired by Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on addressing animal abuse in Karachi.
During the discussions, KMC agreed to provide six vehicles to the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF) for capturing and neutering stray dogs as part of a population control initiative.
Attendees included KMC municipal commissioner, Karachi division commissioner, various secretaries, and representatives from organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and ACF.
The meeting highlighted the Rabies Control Program's efforts, with 20 vaccination centres established across the province to vaccinate 125,000 dogs by June 2025.
The municipal department specified the distribution of anti-rabies and vaccination centres in different districts. ACF CEO Ayesha Chundrigar expressed the foundation's willingness to assist in dog neutering if provided with government-owned vans.
The chief minister instructed the KMC to repair and allocate six out-dated vans to ACF for dog-related initiatives. Additionally, directives were given to evaluate and suggest improvements for Korangi Zoo, Karachi Zoo, and Safari Park.
ACF's initiatives for treating donkeys used as beasts of burden and for pulling .donkey carts were acknowledged, with the Chief Minister urging collaboration between KMC and ACF for donkey cart driver education and veterinary care. Furthermore, instructions were issued to open a veterinary hospital on MA Jinnah Road for street animal treatment, with the Chief Minister expressing intent to visit the established camp.
Artificial shortages of medicines
CM Baqar has directed the health department to ensure the availability of insulin for diabetes patients, anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and anti-hypertensive drugs at every government hospital. "I will not tolerate if any patient suffered due to artificial shortage or black marketing of the medicines," he told the health department.
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The chief minister had received a complaint that there was an acute shortage of Insulin, ARV and anti-hypertensive drugs in the government hospitals and even in the market.
The CM in the light of the complaint got a detailed report about the available stock of the medicines in the government hospitals and in the market.
The health department told the CM that 2,955 vials of ARV, 84,252 vials of insulin and 2,003,967 packs of anti-hypertensive drugs were available in the stock of government hospitals. The health department report said that 187,138 packs of anti-hypertensive drugs, 20,700 vials of ARV and 23,486 vials / pens of insulin are available in the open market.
The report further said that two companies, Getz Pharma and Elli Lilly Pakistan produce Insulin. Getz Pharma informed the health department that they are producing Insulin in sufficient quantity keeping in view the market demand while Elli Lilly mentioned that the company is facing a problem related to the import of Insulin due to a delay in the approval letter of import from DRAP Islamabad.
The CM took up the matter with DRAP authorities and urged them to ensure timely approval of import letters so that patients may not suffer.
The report said that as far as the anti-rabies vaccine is concerned, it is an imported item. The National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad is the only institute throughout Pakistan which produces ARV.
Food safety
Baqar expressed dissatisfaction with the Sindh Food Authority's (SFA) performance during a meeting at the CM House. Emphasizing the importance of ensuring safe and high-quality food, he directed the SFA director general to create a comprehensive inspection and operational plan within two weeks. The chief minister highlighted lapses in food safety, quality, and hygiene across various sectors, including government and private hospitals, medical colleges, ice factories, sweets and bakeries, milk producers, and slaughterhouses. Baqar urged officials to be proactive in enforcing regulations and addressing non-compliance issues, specifically mentioning concerns about mineral water companies and the production of open oil and ghee without adequate safety measures.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2023.