Stray dogs roam Rawalpindi streets
Growing concern over the unchecked stray dog population has sparked public alarm across Rawalpindi, with residents expressing fears for the safety of children, elderly people and other citizens amid the reported unavailability of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) at privately run healthcare facilities.
Residents have urged municipal and cantonment authorities to launch immediate stray dog control operations and ensure safer streets and residential areas.
"Packs of stray dogs roam freely through residential streets, making it extremely dangerous for schoolchildren and the elderly to venture outside during the early morning and late evening hours," local resident Usman Raja said.
An APP spot survey of private hospitals and pharmacies operating within hospitals in Rawalpindi Cantonment found ARV unavailable at several facilities. Hospitals along main Peshawar Road were also found without stocks of the vaccine, leaving dog-bite victims unable to obtain emergency treatment at private medical centres.
However, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Hafiz Jawad Zahid said the government healthcare facilities were fully prepared to deal with animal-bite cases.
"All public-sector THQ hospitals and tertiary-care units across the district maintain complete, free stocks of anti-rabies vaccine and anti-snake venom," Dr Jawad said, urging citizens to seek immediate medical treatment at public hospitals.
Official health records for September 2026 showed 124 dog-bite cases reported at THQ hospitals across the district, including 48 in Taxila, 44 in Kahuta and 32 in Kallar Syedan. A total of 17 snake-bite cases were also reported across the district.
Residents criticised private hospitals and their pharmacies over the unavailability of ARV and urged health authorities to regularly monitor private healthcare facilities to ensure the availability of essential vaccines.
They also called for coordinated action by municipal, health and cantonment authorities, including systematic stray dog management, improved sanitation and preventive measures to protect residents from animal-bite risks.