Islamabad -  A health expert has warned that the increasing number of cat-sized rats in the Parliament House and Parliament Lodges were posing serious health hazards to members, thousands of workers and visitors.

Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Yusuf Zafar on Tuesday suggested to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security to declare an emergency and kill the rodents on a war-footing basis.

"If we want to avoid Parliament being overrun by rats, we need a coordinated approach to tackle this problem,” Dr Zafar said.

Experts believe that rat bites, even scratches, could result in catching infectious diseases and fever. Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage, the experts said.

“Rats contact with food or humans could result in many serious ailments,” Dr Zafar said.

The teeming number of rats and mice has been blamed on food waste and improper disposal of food and other waste generated from the buildings.

The nearby litter-filled nullahs and the overall insanitary conditions of the federal capital were blamed for the increasing population of rodents.

“People become frightened when they encounter cat-sized rats swarming here and there… it is very natural… some even scream,” said Fida Hussain, an employee. They are multiplying at a rapid speed.

More than 2,000 staff are working in the Parliament House, which include around 1,200-plus National Assembly employees, over 500 Senate staff, dozens of janitorial staff and people working in the canteen and travel counters. Hundreds of people including journalists visit the House on a daily basis on routine business days. On special events, the Parliament Building hosts military and political elite, bureaucrats and foreign dignitaries.

“During our study, we investigated rat droppings, their shelters and found the building is badly infested with the rats,” Dr Zafar said sharing the findings of the PARC’s Vertebrate Pest Management Department- which carried out a research on rats, wild boars, porcupine and birds. The study was conducted on a request of the NA Standing Committee on Food Security.

“We have given our findings to the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker,” Dr Zafar said.

He said that the Capital Development Authority must raise a “rat control department” to kill the rodents and strict precautions must be observed by the staff and the visitors to avoid being attacked or beaten by them.