LAHORE - Like other parts of the province, Anti-Dengue Day was observed in provincial capital on Saturday under the auspices of the Punjab government.
Provincial Minister for Education and Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan led the awareness walk from Wasa Disposal Station to Moon Market Gulshan-e-Ravi. The walk was participated by good number of people including government and non-government workers, students of several schools and colleges and people from various walks of life.
The participants showed their full determination to spread awareness among the people by distributing pamphlets and brochures about prevention measures against dengue.
MNA Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmed and MPA Mian Marghoob Ahmed addressed the participants of the walk at its concluding point. Rana Mashhood termed the dengue mosquito a fatal weapon against the humanity and appealed to the people not to allow stagnant rainy water in their houses.
“Government is taking every possible step for the eradication of dengue but we could not achieve our goal without the cooperation of general public. People should not use drinking water without any lid inside the household utensils,” he said.
The Punjab government made it mandatory for all cinemas to show 3 to 5 minutes anti-dengue documentary prior to every film show. “Special instructions have also been issued for the better heath conditions in the remote areas such as Railway colonies and katchi abadis,” he informed.
Mian Marghoob stressed upon the people to act upon the religious teachings in letter and spirit in which cleanliness is regarded equal to half faith. He further said that the anti-dengue spray will not be allowed for every area due to its side effects. The spray will be provided to only dengue affected localities, he added.
Mehr Ishtiaq said the anti-dengue preventive measures required effective efforts by the entire society along with the governmental steps to eradicate dengue from the country.
Another awareness walk was held in Shalimar Town which was led by MNA Pervez Malik. Such awareness walks were also held in Johar Town and various other areas of the provincial metropolis.
Seminar
A seminar in connection with anti-dengue campaign, held at Government Islamia College Civil Lines, was attended by teaching and non-teaching staff as well as a large number of students while MPA Mian Marghoob Ahmed and Punjab Forest Conservator Dr Akmal Raheem were the chief guests on this occasion.
Addressing the seminar, Prof Amir Nadeem threw light on various measures for prevention of dengue. Punjab Forest Conservator Dr Akmal Raheem delivered a lecture on “The Quran, Environment and Role of Trees in Dengue Eradication” he mentioned the Quranic emphasis on cleanliness, types of dengue fever and common breeding sites of dengue mosquitoes. MPA Mian Marghoob Ahmed praised the efforts of the Punjab chief minister and the provincial government to eliminate the menace. Principal Prof Khalid Javed shared with the participants the practical contribution made by the students and teaching staff of the college to eradicate dengue from the country.