The District Health Authority (DHA) Rawalpindi has formed a three-member inquiry committee to investigate corruption and negligence in the ongoing anti-dengue campaign. The committee will be headed by the District Health Officer.
In a parallel move, the DHA has issued show-cause notices to 300 sanitary workers who failed to meet campaign targets. According to the Punjab Health Department, the workers were found absent during field duties but continued to mark their attendance by submitting old photographs from previous campaigns. Despite their absence, the employees allegedly drew full salaries.
Officials said the negligence resulted in misleading dengue surveillance figures being reported. The department stressed that officials failing to perform on an issue directly linked to public safety “do not deserve any concession.”
The anti-dengue drive was launched in response to rising cases after the recent monsoon rains. This year, 281 dengue patients have been reported in Rawalpindi so far — a sharp increase compared to 210 cases reported by September 11 last year.
As of Thursday, 17 new dengue patients were confirmed in the district, with 67 patients currently under treatment in hospitals. Most cases were traced to localities including Kotha Kalan, Qayumabad, Saidpur Scheme, Satellite Town D-Block, Saddar, Tench Bhatta, Shakriyal, Dhamial, Asghar Mall Scheme, and Dhoke Dalal.
