RAWALPINDI: Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said that measures should be taken on war footings for complete eradication of dengue in Rawalpindi. While addressing a special meeting of Sub-committee of Punjab Cabinet regarding dengue situation in commissioner’s office, Rawalpindi, he said that teams of departments concerned should work round the clock for elimination of dengue larva and fogging spray should be conducted consistently in those areas where dengue cases were reported, whereas emergent measures should be taken by WASA for checking leakage of pipes, de-silting of the nullahs and disposal of rainwater. He said that no dereliction or laxity of officers and department would be tolerated in this regard. Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, Housing Secretary Dr Muhammad Arshad, Local Government Secretary Khalid Masood, Capital Development Authority Chairman Maroof Afzal, Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Zahid Saeed, Environment director general, General Fisheries director, district coordination officers (DCOs) of Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fakhar Sultan Raja, Rawalpindi Medical College Principal Dr Muhammad Umer, besides senior officials of government departments attended the meeting. Kh. Salman Rafique said that it is a matter of great concern that 57 cases of dengue have been reported in the hospitals of Rawalpindi. He said that secretaries of concerned departments and he himself would monitor anti-dengue activities in Rawalpindi. He said that dengue cases have been reported in the month of August. He suggested that the experts of the Health Department should review the causes in this respect. Kh Salman Rafique said that the departments concerned should keep close liaison with elected representatives to implement anti-dengue activities. He said that anti-dengue activities of would be reviewed on daily basis. He directed the officers of the executive level of the cantonment board to monitor anti-dengue activities and participate in the meeting personally regarding these activities. He said that beds should be reserved in private as well as government hospitals for the treatment of dengue patients in Rawalpindi. Government departments should ensure mutual coordination for regularly monitoring of anti-dengue activities, he advised. All necessary resources are being provided to the departments concerned for eradication of dengue, he highlighted. He said that fogging and anti-mosquito spray should be ensured regularly. He said that TMAs should ensure disposal of old tyres with the coordination of the Environment Department. He said that all departments should activate their teams and machinery and necessary equipments be made operational. The departments which have not purchased android phones should send photographic record of their activities to monitoring officials on daily basis, he maintained. Meanwhile, CDA Chairman Maroof Afzal told the meeting that immediate steps would be taken for removing solid waste on IJ Principal Road. He said that steps are being taken for eradicating dengue in Islamabad. Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Zahid Saeed said that government departments should utilise all available resources for eliminating dengue. He said that anti-dengue activities would be monitored on daily basis. He said that all departments should ensure implementation on SOPs and pay special attention to practical steps for complete eradication of dengue. Local Government Secretary Khalid Masood said that the teams of local government department would be constituted for monitoring anti-dengue steps and cleanliness at graveyards, open plots and places.