Govt fails to vaccinate street dogs in Punjab

Despite official orders banning the practice, stray dog culling is still being carried out in Punjab, where a rising population of around 2.5 million stray dogs and a lack of timely vaccination have led to 1.3 million dog bites and over 2,000 deaths in the past five years, highlighting the government’s failure to ensure public safety.

District-level Dog Control Cells have been inactive for the past year and a half, halting culling operations. Previously, dogs were routinely culled before 2025, with each district’s Dog Control Cell having an annual budget of millions of rupees. Following a 2025 court order, the cell was renamed the Dog Control and Animal Birth Control Cell. Since then, TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) programs were attempted, but practical results have been negligible.

A major government program allocated Rs900 million for major cities to manage stray dogs, but dogs could neither be captured nor sterilized, nor relocated to shelters. Some shelters were built at a cost of over Rs15 million, yet results were minimal.

According to data obtained by the Express Tribune, dog-bite cases and stray dog populations have risen in Punjab over the past five years. From 2021 to March 2026, over 1.3 million dog-bite cases were reported, with more than 500,000 cases in just the last two years. In the first six months of 2025 alone, 150,000 cases occurred.

Due to dog bites and lack of timely vaccination, Punjab sees 200–400 deaths annually, totaling over 2,100 deaths in the past five years. Yearly data shows a rise: 180,000 cases in 2021, over 200,000 in 2022, nearly 300,000 in 2023, and continued increases through 2024 to March 2026. Health department reports indicate that while vaccines are present in hospitals, crucial injections like Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) remain in short supply. Between 2024 and March 2026, over 575,000 people were affected by dog bites.

District-wise, Dera Ghazi Khan recorded the highest number of cases at 33,990, followed by Multan 29,713, Rahim Yar Khan 28,590, Rawalpindi 27,570, Rajanpur 26,770, Mianwali 22,961, Kasur 20,750, Muzaffargarh 17,749, Faisalabad 10,350, and Bhakkar & Khushab 7,855. Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Nankana Sahib reported several thousand cases each, with Sheikhupura over 7,000.

Mohammad Nasir Iqbal Khan, Central Chairman of the International Human Rights Movement, emphasized that clearing stray dogs and improving city sanitation was essential. "Stray dogs are attacking citizens, including children and women, yet authorities remain inactive," said Khan, who cited tragic incidents like the death of eight-year-old Mehr Bano during Eid al-Fitr due to stray dog attacks.

Qaiser Sharif, Vice President of the Public Aid Committee of Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, criticized Punjab’s government for being powerless against stray dogs despite allocating millions of rupees annually for culling. “Instead NGOs could take in the two million stray dogs to prevent attacks on the public,” urged Sharif.

Punjab’s Local Government spokesperson assured that the government is taking measures under court orders to ensure public safety. Stray dog populations will be controlled through sterilization, as culling is prohibited under the Animal Birth Control Policy.

Annually, over 1 million anti-rabies vaccines are needed, but supply often falls short. Shortages, especially of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG), have been reported in several districts, causing treatment difficulties. Areas with higher dog-bite incidents, such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Kasur, Lahore, and Multan, are particularly affected by vaccine shortages, especially in rural and small tehsil hospitals.