PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has asked the health department for an explanation on funds used in anti-dengue awareness drives.
The government inquired about Rs 504 million allocated for dengue prevention and fumigation campaigns from the health department.
The request comes as dengue cases in Peshawar are rising at an alarming rate, highlighting issues of slow response, poor planning, and administrative failure within the health department.
A letter issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to the Secretary of Health and the Director General of Health states that the suburban areas of Peshawar, particularly PK-76, are currently experiencing a surge in dengue cases. Despite the allocation of Rs 504 million for dengue prevention, there has been no visible effective utilisation of these funds.
The letter demands that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department submit a report to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat within three days. This report should include information on dengue fatalities, the number of infected patients, measures taken to combat dengue, and a detailed account of how the Rs 504 million has been spent. Any delay in submitting this report will be regarded as serious administrative negligence.
The increase in dengue cases in Peshawar’s suburbs raises significant concerns about the health department’s management, prompting government attention. In response, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has stated that it will provide details related to PK-76 to the CM Secretariat.
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Following this notice from the CM Secretariat, both the district administration and the health department have initiated a campaign to prevent further dengue outbreaks in affected areas. The Commissioner of Peshawar has declared an emergency across 20 union councils to address the situation. Additionally, it has been decided to appoint dedicated teams for the sensitive union councils, and the Commissioner has instructed that special beds be allocated for dengue patients in hospitals throughout Peshawar.
