LAHORE Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said dengue virus cannot be overcome without large scale and practical participation of the people, and there is a need for a movement rather a drive for dengue eradication and participation of Ulema and Mashaikh will give a momentum to this cause. He asked Ulema to play their due role in changing the environment of fear and panic into an atmosphere of courage and determination and encouraging the doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff who are saving thousands of lives and support them in the performance of this sacred obligation. He was addressing Ulema and Mashaikh at CMs Secretariat here on Saturday. Ministers Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor and Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi, and members of National and Provincial Assemblies were also present on the occasion. The CM said Punjab, especially Lahore and some other cities of the province, was facing dengue, and this disease was new to our society; so unrest and fear created due to this disease was a natural process. He said due to effective awareness campaign of the government, people had become aware of dengue virus and precautionary measures to a large extent for checking the breeding of mosquito. He said medical experts had the consensus that the problem of dengue mosquito is a social one rather than a medical. He also said the Punjab government was practically fighting this menace with full determination, sincerity and all its resources. He said in order to meet this challenge, medical emergency has been declared in all the affected cities and administrative and monitoring teams were deputed by dividing affected cities in to towns. He mentioned that Rs 450 million were allocated for purchase of spray for killing the dengue mosquito, Rs 240m for increasing the number of platelets machines from eight to sixty while Rs 80m were being spent for the provision of 100 new machines for blood test on emergent basis. He asked Ulema to tell the people that they should not afraid of dengue rather fight against it. Cleanliness is an essential element of our religion and it has been declared half-faith; therefore, let us come forward to convince the masses to fulfil this obligation of faith. Ulema talk about the doomsday which is certain but why they dont mention the problems like price-hike, load-shedding, disease, poverty and exploitation being face by the poor and hapless person almost daily? he questioned. Ulema and Mashaikh paid tributes to the CM for taking solid measures for eradication of dengue virus, and assured him that they were with him in this hour of trial and would play their effective role for the guidance and awareness of people regarding protection from dengue.