South Punjab launches crackdown on stray dogs after child’s death

Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fawad Hashim Rabbani has expressed grief over the death of a young girl after a stray dog attack in Bahawalnagar and called for immediate measures to prevent further incidents across the region.

He chaired an emergency review meeting through video link on Tuesday to assess the rising number of dog-bite incidents in South Punjab. Deputy commissioners from all districts attended the meeting and briefed him on measures taken to eliminate stray dogs and vaccinate pet dogs.

Rabbani expressed strong displeasure over the performance of the Bahawalnagar deputy commissioner. He also directed the deputy commissioners of Rajanpur and Vehari to take stronger and more effective measures after a significant increase in dog-bite cases was reported in their respective districts.

The additional chief secretary instructed all deputy commissioners to identify areas affected by stray dogs and ensure effective measures for their elimination.

Addressing the meeting, he said incidents involving stray dog attacks were among the chief minister’s red lines. He stressed that the Punjab government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards deaths caused by dog bites.

He warned that the presence of stray dogs in public places and attacks on pedestrians would not be tolerated. He also directed all administrative officers in South Punjab to ensure continuous and effective monitoring of municipal services in line with government policy.

Rabbani made it clear that verbal assurances and figures would no longer be sufficient to demonstrate progress in eliminating stray dogs. He said deputy commissioners must ensure their visible presence in the field and deliver tangible results.

Referring to the priorities outlined by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said practical and effective action must be visible on the ground. He directed officials to launch a comprehensive campaign against stray dogs and ensure that it was implemented in letter and spirit.

He also called for strict action against officials involved in fake reporting and stressed the need for accurate information about the campaign’s progress.

Furthermore, he directed authorities to ensure immediate legal action against owners of pet dogs involved in biting incidents, emphasising that accountability and effective enforcement were essential to preventing further casualties.