HYDERABAD – Deputy Commissioner Agha Shahnawaz Babar has set up a Polio Control Room of Hyderabad District as per the criteria of National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication 2013.

The Deputy Commissioner has assigned Abid Saleem Qureshi ADC II (Designated Officer/Focal person for Polio by DC), Dr Bakhsh Ali Pittafi (District Health Officer), Dr Muhammad Ashraf Memon (Designated Officer by DHO), Dr Muhammad Nadeem Shah (FEL TP N-STOP Officer), Dr Santosh Kumar (District Polio Eradication Officer, WHO), Noor Hassan (District Health Communication Officer, UNICEF), Shagufta (Data Manager designated by DC) and Dost Muhammad Baloch (Representative of Rotary International) to perform duty in the control room which would remain operational throughout the month.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Ahmed Bakhsh Narejo, taking serious notice of news appeared in a section of press on January 15 regarding release of toxic chemicals in the Kulri Baghar Feeder causing mass killings of fish, has asked the officials concerned to take preventive measures into the matter. He asked the Deputy Commissioners Jamshoro and Thatta, Chief Engineer Irrigation Barrage Hyderabad, Managing Director Water and Sewerage Board, Karachi and Director General Environmental Protection Agency, Karachi to also submit detail report of onward transmission to higher authorities.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the city as a shutter-down strike was observed on the call of a religious party. Aerial firing was also reported during the strike while shops and other business activities remained suspended.
The areas of the city that were completely closed include Latifabad, Gari Khata, Station Road, Tilk Charhi, Cloth Market, Preetabad and others. In Latifabad, two men were reported injured in unidentified gunmen's firing. Transport was also very thin on the roads of the city.