CDA chairman, NA deputy speaker

summoned to clarify situation

Islamabad

Taking note of rat biting incidents in the Parliament Lodges, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights on Thursday called Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and deputy speaker, National Assembly, in the Standing Committee’s next meeting to explain the presence of large number of rats in the city and Lodges.

The matter came up in the meeting during a presentation of Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) representatives on the rise in rat biting cases in the province. The KP representatives gave a detailed briefing on the steps been taken by the provincial government to tackle the issue of rats. They said that till now, 923 cases of rat bites have been reported and three people lost their lives in such incidents. They said that the KP government has formed teams to kill rats and they carry cleaning operation at night.

The KP officials stressed the need to carry out research on the specific breed of rats which are much bigger in size and breed three to four time in a year giving birth to 10 to 14 rats every time. They said that currently, the provincial government is focusing to eliminate the rats rather than investing in research on the life cycle of the rodent.

The Committee Chairman Babar Nawaz Khan directed the provincial representatives to initiate a one month sanitation drive in Peshawar to get rid of this problem. He also recommended Minister for Information and Broadcasting to play a promo on state run television channel to create awareness among masses about the issue.

During that briefing, committee members pointed out the presence of large number of rats in the Parliament Lodges and said that recently, MNA Mussarat Rafiq was bitten by a rat. “We keep our doors closed because of the huge size rats n the Lodges,” said MNA Aliya Kamran Murtaza.

MNA Babar Nawaz Khan shared that he witnessed more than hundred huge sized rats in the backyard of a famous private hospital in Islamabad. He directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and deputy speaker, National Assembly, to explain their position in this regard in the next meeting and brief the members about the steps that have been taken to control the situation.

The standing committee also gave directions to Sindh government on improving the situation in Thar. The committee chairman recommended prime minister and chief minister Sindh to establish a proper water supply system in Thar region. “If water could be supplied to Islamabad from another province, the same could be done in Thar,” he said.

Secretary health Sindh explained to the committee that the provincial government has increased financial and health resources in Thar region but the biggest challenge is the dearth of human resource. “Even boys and girls of the same region are not ready to serve in their native area,” he informed. The committee recommended more nursing homes in the areas to ensure provision of health services. The chairman also directed that Sindh Health minister to establish a Nursing Institute in the region to improve the health situation in the area.

The committee also recommended the committee officials to call heads of all Non-Government Organisations working in Thar and nearby areas to come to the next meeting and brief them about their services for establishing a strategy for better living conditions of natives.

The committee was attended by Members National Assembly Sayed Essa Nori, Surriya Asghar, Kiran Haider, Asiya Naz Tanoli, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Amra Khan, Dr. Nafisa Shah, Dr. Shazia Sobia, Musarat Rafique Mahesar, and Munaza Hassan, Secretary Ministry of Human Rights (MOHR), officials of MOHR, officials of health department Sindh and Khaber Pakhtunkhwa.