RAWALPINDI  - On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Anti-Dengue Day was observed in district Rawalpindi like other districts of the province.
All government, semi-government departments, institutions and organisations remained open on Sunday and the offices and premises of such organizations were cleaned besides holding special walks and seminars to create awareness among masses against dengue and to observe all precautionary measures for the protection from this disease.
In connection with Dengue Prevention Day main walk for creating awareness among the people was held from Fawwara Chowk to Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi. Malik Shakil Awan, MNA, Raja Muhammad Hanif Advocate MPA, Commissioner Rawalpindi Imdad Ullah Bosal, DCO Saqib Zafar, Principal Rawalpindi Medical College Prof. Dr. Musaddaq Khan, EDO Health Dr. Zafar Iqbal Gondal, EDO MS Imtiaz Ahmed Malik, PML (N) City Vice President Mirza Mansoor Baig led the walk which was participated by the officials of government departments, TMA, RDA, WASA, students of Rawalpindi Medical College, doctors, paramedical staff of hospitals, girl and boy students of schools and colleges, office bearers of traders’ associations and large number of citizens from cross section of society.
The participants of the walk were carrying banners and posters bearing precautionary measures against Dengue and urging the citizens to maintain cleanliness in and around their homes. Makil Awan MNA while addressing the participants of the walk said that Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, initiated untiring efforts by mobilizing all government departments, agencies and utilizing all available resources for saving the precious lives of citizens from the effects of Dengue and a hectic and massive campaign has been started in the province to eliminate the larvae and mosquito of Dengue in all rural and urban areas of the province.
He said that it was the responsibility of every citizen to play his role for controlling Dengue and protecting citizens from this dangerous disease by adopting all precautionary measures and taking steps for ensuring cleanliness and letting no place wet or stagnant water anywhere around them.
He further said that nations unitedly confronting the challenges in time of test to survive like a live nation in the world.
Raja Muhammad Hanif Advocate MPA addressing the participants of the walk appealed the citizens to extend their all out cooperation by adopting precautionary measures against Dengue. Commissioner Rawalpindi Imdad Ullah Bosal said that all government departments, agencies and organizations have been made active to eliminate larvae of Dengue and make the citizens protected from this disease.
He added that all necessary arrangements and steps have already been taken and all the three main hospitals besides private hospitals in Rawalpindi and cantonment areas and in the whole division have been made alert to treat suspected patients of Dengue if any case of Dengue is indicated.
MNA Malik Shakil Awan, MPA Raja Muhammad Hanif Advocate, Commissioner Rawalpindi Imdad Ullah Bosal and DCO Saqib Zafar, distributed pamphlets among citizens on Murree Road to highlight the action of Dengue Prevention Day and create awareness among them.
Later, MNA Malik Shakil Awan along with DCO Rawalpindi Saqib Zafar and DHO Dr. Ansar Ishaq conducted larvacide campaign by putting insecticides in Nullah Lehi near near Pir Wadhai Bridge. They also visited tyre market in Rawalpindi city known as “tyran wala Bazar”, Dingi Kuhi, Raja Bazar, Gunj Mandi and Rata Amral and supervised the conduction of spray in these markets, godowns and workshops.
Meanwhile, Malik Ibrar MNA and Malik Iftikhar MPA along with ADC(G) Saif Anwar Jappa conducted larvacide campaign in area of Misrial Road and spread insecticides in various nullahs. In connection larv acide campaign on Anti Dengue day, Commissioner Rawalpindi Imdad Ullah Bosal and MPA Raja Hanif Advocate conducted larvacide campaign in area of Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi.  The themselves put and spread insecticides in open plots, nullahs and other different places.
Similarly, different government departments, agencies, organizations and educational institutions also held special walks and seminars to create awareness among citizens against Dengue. A walk and special seminar to mark the significance of the Dengue Prevention Day and create awareness among masses was held in ABAD and Agriculture Complex followed by a seminar highlighting the dangers of dengue virus and precautionary measures for safeguarding the people from this disease. Additional Secretary Agriculture Punjab Amir Khattak, DG, ABAD, EDO Agriculture Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Gil, Chief ABAD Kamran Abdullah led the walk and presided the seminar.
District Population Welfare office Rawalpindi in collaboration with Family Unit of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Hospital Rawalpindi held a seminar in BBH on Dengue and thereafter the participants of the seminars attended the awareness walk on Dengue from BBH to Chandani Chowk to highlight the precautionary measures against this disease.
Social Welfare Department Rawalpindi and its allied organisations also held a walk from 6th Road to Nawaz Sharif Park on Murree Road to create awareness among the masses against Dengue and seminar also held in this respect in the auditorium of Rawalpindi Arts Council where citizens were made aware of dangers of Dengue and precautionary measures adopted against this disease through display of CD and a special puppet show was also held in this connection. MPAs Ziaullah Shah and Raja Hanif Adovcate addressing the seminar highlighted the need of awaring the people for maintaining cleanliness in and around their residential homes and places. They said that people would play their role for making the campaign against Dengue a real success.
They said that concerned govt. departments should complete their spray campaign giving priority to the high risk areas Special Education Department also held a walk in Nawaz Sharif Park, Rawalpindi and the blind girl students of Govt. Special High School, Rawalpindi , their teachers and citizens participated in this walk carrying play cards against dengue disease.
Meanwhile, on the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, Rawalpindi police held a seminar on dengue at Hassan Raza Complex here on Sunday to aware the officials to fight against the dengue.
Among others, the police officials and a large number of people attended the seminar. Superintendent Police (SP) Headquarter Israr Ahmed Abbasi, Deputy Superintendent police Mirza Tahir Sikander and Dr Tariq Mehmood Senior Medical Officer addressed the seminar and advised the officials adopt the measures to avoid dengue.
The pamphlets were also distributed among the participants about the dengue virus. Online adds: Rawalpindi Arts Council observed Anti-Dengue Prevention Day throughout the day enthusiastically here on Sunday.
The ceremonies regarding awareness against Dengue started from a walk led by Resident Director Waqar Ahmed which stared from Murree Road and ended at RAC.
Poster Exhibition prepared by student of various educational institutions displayed at art gallery. A seminar for awareness was held in which Raja Hanif Advocate, member Punjab Assembly and Zia Ullah Shah, member Punjab Assembly were the guest of honor. Raja Hanif Advocate addressing the participants of the seminar said that it is obligation for everybody to participate in the war against Dengue declared by chief minister of the Punjab and this is sole way to overcome on it.
He said that it is positive sign to see public united against dengue. Zia Ullah Shah, member Punjab Assembly said that public should not be afraid of dengue, instead it should fight vigorously against it. He further said that government cannot fight with dengue individually without public support. The public will have to stand shoulder by shoulder with the government.
A puppet show titled “Bhag Dengue Bhag” based on skits and songs was also arranged for families and children to convey anti dengue awareness message in a very soft manner. Waqar Ahmed, Director Rawalpindi Arts Council thanked all the political figures and participants for their contribution in public interest and pledged to continue such kind of activities.