South Punjab Administration Orders Crackdown on Stray Dogs After Bahawalnagar Girl's Death

The South Punjab administration has ordered urgent measures to protect residents from dangerous dogs following the death of a 12-year-old girl in a stray dog attack in Bahawalnagar. Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fawad Hashim Rabbani chaired an emergency meeting to review the rising number of dog-bite cases reported across the region.

According to officials, the girl was attacked by a pack of more than a dozen stray dogs while she was on her way to a madrassa in Basti Yaseen, Akooka Hathar, near Mandi Madressa, two days ago. Rabbani expressed deep sorrow over her death and also voiced anger over the performance of the Bahawalnagar deputy commissioner.

Deputy commissioners from all South Punjab districts joined the meeting via video link and briefed participants on their efforts to remove stray dogs and vaccinate pet dogs. Rabbani directed them to identify areas with large concentrations of stray dogs and to take strong action to bring the problem under control.

The additional chief secretary specifically asked the Rajanpur and Vehari administrations to step up their efforts after a rise in dog-bite cases was reported in these districts. He made clear that written reports and figures alone would not be accepted, and that deputy commissioners must personally visit affected areas and demonstrate real progress on the ground.

Rabbani also ordered officials to properly launch the campaign against stray dogs and to take strict action against anyone submitting false reports about their removal. He further directed that immediate legal action be taken against pet dog owners whose animals attack people.

All administrative officers were instructed to regularly check municipal services to ensure effective steps are being taken to protect residents from dog attacks. The directives come as authorities face growing pressure to address public safety concerns linked to stray dogs across South Punjab.