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ARY NEWS

Jahangir Khan

  • Pakistan reports significant rise in dog bite cases

    Pakistan reports significant rise in dog bite cases

    ISLAMABAD: A significant rise in dog bites cases was recorded across Pakistan, last week, ARY News reported on Monday, citing NIH sources.

    According to sources in the National Institute of Health (NIH), 7,815 cases of dog bites were reported nationwide last week.

    The majority of these incidents were reported in Punjab, with 5,158 cases. In Sindh, 1,975 citizens were injured by stray dogs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 475 cases, while Balochistan saw 91 incidents.

    In Azad Kashmir, 112 cases of dog bites were reported, and Gilgit-Baltistan reported 4 cases.

    The alarming increase in dog bite cases highlights the urgent need for effective measures to control the stray dog population and ensure the safety of citizens. Public health authorities are urged to take swift action to address this growing concern and implement strategies for vaccination and management of stray animals.

    Read more: Stray dog mauls infant to death inside house

    On July 19, a seven-month-old baby died after being mauled by a stray dog in Pakpattan.

    According to the details, the stray dog entered the house and attacked the infant, who succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the hospital.

    The rescue sources said that the infant was attacked by the dog inside his home in Pakpattan’s Kamiriyan village.

    The child was being rushed to the hospital in injured condition but died on his way. The dog was later caught and beaten to death by the area people.

  • Poliovirus ‘detected’ in sewage samples of three districts in Pakistan

    Poliovirus ‘detected’ in sewage samples of three districts in Pakistan

    The poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples of three districts across Pakistan, ARY News reported on Tuesday, citing sources.

    According to sources, the Type-1 Wild Poliovirus was found in sewage lines. The affected districts include Karachi South, Korangi and Dera Bugti, Balochistan, the sources said.

    The samples were collected for poliovirus testing between 11 and 13 June.

    The number of positive sewage samples has risen to 214 in 2024 after detection of three new samples, the sources said.

    Sampling for polio testing was conducted in the affected districts from June 6 to 11. Pakistan has reported eight cases of poliovirus in 2024 so far.

    Read more: Two more kids tests positive for poliovirus

    In June, Pakistan reported two more polio cases from Sindh and Balochistan.

    The National Institute of Health confirmed the two polio cases, a two-year-old child from Qila Abdullah from Balochistan and a 3-year-old girl from Karachi Kemari.

    Pakistan reported six polio cases last year, with four from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two from Karachi.

    Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis, disability, and even death. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent polio, and Pakistan has been working to vaccinate millions of children under the age of five to prevent the spread of the disease.

    However, it could not be confirmed whether the affected child had been vaccinated against polio or not.

  • PPP decides to vote for budget 2024-25

    PPP decides to vote for budget 2024-25

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to vote for budget 2024-25 in the National Assembly, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

    The decision was taken during a PPP Parliamentary party’s meeting chaired by chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Parliament House.

    Earlier in the day, speaking in the NA budget session, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said PPP decided to support PML-N for the sake of the federation’s survival and complained of PML-N not implementing the pact agreed between both the parties.

    It would have been better if suggestions of PPP and opposition parties were added to the budget 2024-25. “For National Economic Policy, everyone should be taken onboard”.

    Read more: Govt accepts all PPP demands for budget support

    On Sunday, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government accepted ‘all demands’ of its major ally, the Pakistan Peoples’ to seek the latter’s support for the passage of Budget 2024-25.

    According to sources, the PML-N has agreed to the PPP’s demands concerning district administration control, the appointment of law officers, representation on various boards and authorities, the early scheduling of local body elections, and the equitable distribution of development funds among lawmakers from both parties.

    During the negotiations, the government expressed Incognizance of any anti-PPP retaliation in Punjab, stating that the government cannot engage in political revenge against a coalition party.

  • PPP parliamentary party meeting ‘summoned’ to discuss budget 2024-25

    PPP parliamentary party meeting ‘summoned’ to discuss budget 2024-25

    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) parliamentary party’s meeting has been summoned tomorrow (Tuesday), to discuss negotiations with the government on budget 2024-25, ARY News reported on Monday, citing sources. 

    As per details, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will chair the meeting of the parliamentary party. The huddle will be briefed on the negotiations with the government on the grievances on budget and other issues.

    The decision on the budget 2024-25 vote will also be taken tomorrow, said sources knowing the development.

    Furthermore, today’s speech of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the National Assembly has been postponed and now the former FM will address the house tomorrow.

    Read more: Govt accepts all PPP demands for budget support

    On Sunday, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government accepted ‘all demands’ of its major ally, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), to seek the latter’s support for the passage of Budget 2024-25.

    According to sources, the PML-N has agreed to the PPP’s demands concerning district administration control, the appointment of law officers, representation on various boards and authorities, the early scheduling of local body elections, and the equitable distribution of development funds among lawmakers from both parties.

    During the negotiations, the government expressed Incognizance of any anti-PPP retaliation in Punjab, stating that the government cannot engage in political revenge against a coalition party.

  • Poliovirus ‘detected’ in sewage samples of Karachi, Peshawar

    Poliovirus ‘detected’ in sewage samples of Karachi, Peshawar

    The poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples from Karachi and Peshawar, ARY News reported on Thursday, citing sources.

    According to sources, the poliovirus was detected in sewage samples of Karachi’s Kemari and Peshawar. Sources, the samples were collected on June 3rd and 4th, and the results show the presence of wild poliovirus type 1, and vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 and 3.

    So far this year, 185 samples from all four provinces have tested positive for polio, and 45 districts across the country have reported polio cases.

    Pakistan has reported five polivirus cases in 2024 so far, while an infected kid passed away battling the crippling disease.

    Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the poliovirus, which causes paralysis and can be a life-threatening disease, is endemic.

  • PPP assures Govt to extend support in budget vote

    PPP assures Govt to extend support in budget vote

    ISLAMABAD: The People’s Party and the PML-N have reached to an understanding with regard to the federal budget being presented in the Parliament today.

    The PPP despite showing its reservations with regard to the budget will vote for it, sources said.

    The party leaders earlier said that it didn’t yet decide to vote for or against the federal budget being announced by the federal government today.

    Sources said that the matters between two allied parties have been settled at the top leadership level.

    The People’s Party will extend its full support to the PML-N for approval of the budget. “Despite protest and speeches in the parliament, the PPP will support passage of the budget,” sources said.

    According to sources, the government has assured the PPP to add some of its proposals in the budget. The PPP leadership in quid pro quo has assured to vote for the PML-N budget.

    The PML-N had requested to the PPP for cooperation in passing the budget.

    Earlier, PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari had said that the party has yet to decide to support or oppose the budget.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the country’s overall economic situation and the upcoming annual budget 2024-25.

    Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal also attended the meeting, according to a President House press release.

    President Zardari emphasised that the interests of the low income and middle class should be protected in the annual budget. He also assured the prime minister of his support for the national development and achievement of fiscal targets.

    PM Shehbaz and President Zardari also deliberated on the development projects to be proposed in the next budget. The prime minister apprised the president of his recent five-day visit to China.

    The federal government is all set to present budget for fiscal year 2024-25 on June 12 (today).

  • NIH issues advisory on Naegleria

    NIH issues advisory on Naegleria

    The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory after increasing cases of brain-eating amoeba; Naegleria fowleri.

    The advisory has been forwarded to the federal and provincial health departments, as well as water and sanitation agencies.

    According to the advisory, cases and deaths due to Naegleria have been reported in Pakistan since 2008. The advisory stated that brain-eating amoeba cases are being reported from various cities, including Karachi.

    Symptoms of Naegleria include high fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness, the advisory noted. At the final clinical stage, the virus can lead to coma, the advisory NIH warned.

    The water supply department is advised to ensure the prescribed amount of chlorine is added to the water. The advisory highlighted that inadequate chlorine levels in water, especially during high temperatures, can cause Naegleria.

    Read more: Naegleria resurfaces in Karachi, claims life of 30-year-old man

    Brain-eating amoeba can be found in rivers, lakes, and hot springs, according to the advisory. The infection occurs when water with insufficient chlorine enters the nose, the advisory explained. Delayed diagnosis of the infection can lead to death within 4 to 7 days, the NIH advisory warned.

    The NIH advisory noted that 75% of Naegleria cases are diagnosed posthumously. Naegleria cannot survive in clean, cold, chlorinated water, the advisory emphasized. Relevant authorities have been instructed to maintain the cleanliness of water tanks and pipes.

  • Budget 2024: Govt decides to include 62 Health Ministry projects

    Budget 2024: Govt decides to include 62 Health Ministry projects

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to include 62 projects for Ministry of Health in the upcoming federal budget, with a total allocation of Rs8.91 billion, ARY News reported on Sunday.

    According to details available with ARY News, the projects include 32 ongoing and 30 new initiatives, with a focus on improving healthcare facilities across the country.

    Sources claimed that Rs5.56 billion has been allocated for ongoing projects, while Rs3.35 billion has been earmarked for new projects. The ministry has also proposed allocating Rs200 million for the construction of four basic health units in Islamabad.

    Other projects include the upgradation of various hospitals and healthcare facilities, purchase of medical equipment, and establishment of new health centers.

    The ministry has also proposed allocating funds for the prevention and control of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS.

    Meanwhile, funds were not earmarked for the ongoing project to prevent blindness in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

    The proposed budget includes:

    Rs300m for the ongoing IDSR program

    Rs400m for the 200-bed emergency center in PIMS

    Rs30m for the 200-bed gynae center in Rawalpindi

    Rs100m for the community health center in Budhana Kalan

    Rs100m for the community health center in Bara Imam Islamabad

    Rs500m for the upgradation of Jinah Hospital Islamabad

    Rs100m for the Ghurrah Shaahin Zocha Bacha Center

    Rs290m for the establishment of a disease control center in Islamabad

     

  • Pakistan reports fifth polio case of 2024

    Pakistan reports fifth polio case of 2024

    ISLAMABAD: A new case of polio has been reported in Pakistan, bringing the total number of cases in the country to five in 2024, ARY News reported citing sources.

    According to sources, the latest case is a two-year-old child from Quetta, Balochistan, who tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

    The National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the fifth polio case reported in Pakistan this year.

    This is the fifth polio case in 2024 as Pakistan had earlier reported four cases. One case was from Sindh whereas the three cases reported were from Balochistan.

    The country reported six polio cases last year, with four from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two from Karachi.

    Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis, disability, and even death. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent polio, and Pakistan has been working to vaccinate millions of children under the age of five to prevent the spread of the disease.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working with Pakistan and Afghanistan, the only two countries where polio is still endemic, to implement a synchronized polio vaccination campaign

  • Poliovirus ‘detected’ in environmental sample collected from Lasbela

    Poliovirus ‘detected’ in environmental sample collected from Lasbela

    Poliovirus has been detected in yet another environmental sample in Pakistan, taking the tally for the current year to 173 in 44 districts, ARY News reported on Friday, citing sources.

    The sample collected from the sewage of Jamala Muhallah of Lasbela on May 21, tested positive for Type-1 Wild Poliovirus. Three sewage samples have tested positive for poliovirus in Lasbela in the current year.

    Pakistan has reported 173 positive environmental samples for poliovirus in 2024, the sources said.

    Yesterday, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus in Dukki and Killa Saifullah, said a lab official on condition of anonymity.

    Last week, Pakistan ‘reported’ the fourth poliovirus case of the current year.

    Read more: Cop on polio duty killed in Peshawar

    A 2-year-old boy from Bharkan union council in Sindh’s Shikarpur district became the latest victim.

    The health department official said the virus was detected in stool samples collected from a child, adding that he had developed symptoms of paralysis on May 21.

    This is the fourth polio case in 2024 as Pakistan had earlier reported three cases. All of the previous three cases reported this year were from Balochistan.

    Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the poliovirus, which causes paralysis and can be a life-threatening disease, is endemic.