Dengue in Punjab: Rs0.5m compensation for families of victims

PPP, PML-Q MPAs stage protest in front of CM house, demand Shahbaz Sharif resign.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif announced a compensation of Rs500, 000 for the families of the dengue victims, while three more people succumbed to the virus in Punjab on Saturday.

The chief minister, in a meeting on Saturday, said that the government is implementing a comprehensive plan to combat the deadly virus.

He stressed that the doctors should put in extra hours in the government hospitals to help fight the disease.

Meanwhile, two people died in Mayo Hospital Lahore, while a woman passed away in Multan.

At least 299 people have died due to the deadly virus in Punjab, out of which 213 are from Lahore.

The number of patients affected from dengue has crossed 16, 000 with more than 14, 000 from the provincial capital.

PPP stage protest in front of CM house

Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) MPAs staged a sit-in outside the Chief Minister's Secretariat on The Mall to protest against Punjab government's inadequate measures to control dengue.

Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz led the sit-in. A large number of opposition lawmakers participated in the demonstration.

Riaz demanded immediate resignation of the chief minister for failure to take timely measures to control the deadly virus.

He was of the opinion that the chief minister was informed about the expected dengue outbreak a year ago but he did not pay any heed to the matter.

"Dengue mosquito rules during the day while dacoits rule the province at night," he added.

He also asked PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to seek resignation from his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif as he had miserably failed to take measures to control dengue inthe province.

He said the law and order situation had worsened.

"Law abiding citizens are at the mercy of hardened criminals," he added.