Sindh grappled with a significant public safety challenge in 2024, as stray dog attacks injured 300,000 people across the province.
Reports revealed that 15 individuals lost their lives due to severe dog bites. Karachi emerged as the hardest-hit city, with over 50,000 cases and 18 fatalities linked to stray dog attacks.
Experts criticized the provincial government for failing to take meaningful steps to control the stray dog population after a 2018 pilot project focused on vaccination and sterilization. No follow-up programs were initiated to address the growing incidents.
Medical professionals, including Aftab Gauhar, head of the Dog Bite Clinic, and anti-rabies specialist Dr. Romana Farhat, highlighted the lack of preventive measures. They called for urgent vaccination drives and dog control initiatives.
Citizens demanded effective measures to protect public safety, including dog eradication campaigns. Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho stated that municipal authorities were responsible for controlling stray dogs.
However, reports indicated a severe shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in most district hospitals, forcing patients to travel to Karachi for treatment.
Karachi residents expressed growing concerns over dog bite cases, urging authorities to ensure vaccine availability and initiate dog culling operations to address the crisis.
