K-P confirms 44 new dengue cases
According to the department's report, 99 patients have recovered, while 44 cases remain active.
District-wise data shows Charsadda recorded the highest number of cases at 54, followed by Abbottabad with 17, Upper Chitral with 11, and Peshawar with 11. Other districts reporting cases include Bajaur six, Bannu three, Dera Ismail Khan four, Lower Dir nine, Haripur three, Karak one, Kohat one, Lower Kohistan one, Malakand one, Mansehra five, and Swat three.
It may be recalled that in March this year, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, as a timely step to effectively control the expected outbreak of dengue during the upcoming season, directed the authorities to urgently prepare and implement Dengue Action Plan 2025.
On the special directives of the Chief Minister, a letter was sent to Chief Secretary by the Chief Minister's Secretariat in this regard.
The letter says that dengue has posed severe public health challenges in the last several years, and its effective control requires proactive efforts by all departments.
It further says that previous experiences have shown that when structured and coordinated efforts are made during the dormant season, there is a marked reduction in the number of dengue cases in the peak season, adding that building on this, its imperative to immediately develop and execute synchronised activities to ensure all necessary preventive measures are in place before the peak dengue season.
"Dengue Action Plan 2025 should include a detailed schedule of activities for all the relevant departments, outlining preventive, promotional, and curative measures," the letter reads.
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Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
K-P confirms 44 new dengue cases
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has confirmed 44 new dengue cases across various districts of the province over the past week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since January this year to 133. According to the department's report, 99 patients have recovered, while 44 cases remain active. District-wise data shows Charsadda recorded the highest number of cases at 54, followed by Abbottabad with 17, Upper Chitral with 11, and Peshawar with 11. Other districts reporting cases include Bajaur six, Bannu three, Dera Ismail Khan four, Lower Dir nine, Haripur three, Karak one, Kohat one, Lower Kohistan one, Malakand one, Mansehra five, and Swat three. It may be recalled that in March this year, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, as a timely step to effectively control the expected outbreak of dengue during the upcoming season, directed the authorities to urgently prepare and implement Dengue Action Plan 2025. On the special directives of the Chief Minister, a letter was sent to Chief Secretary by the Chief Minister's Secretariat in this regard. The letter says that dengue has posed severe public health challenges in the last several years, and its effective control requires proactive efforts by all departments. It further says that previous experiences have shown that when structured and coordinated efforts are made during the dormant season, there is a marked reduction in the number of dengue cases in the peak season, adding that building on this, its imperative to immediately develop and execute synchronised activities to ensure all necessary preventive measures are in place before the peak dengue season. "Dengue Action Plan 2025 should include a detailed schedule of activities for all the relevant departments, outlining preventive, promotional, and curative measures," the letter reads.
Express Tribune
23-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Gandapur opens K-P's first food laboratory
In a landmark development for food safety and public health, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Wednesday inaugurated the province's first Provincial Food Testing Laboratory and Centre for Research in Hayatabad, Peshawar. The cutting-edge facility, constructed at a cost of Rs905 million under the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA), is built to international ISO standards and aims to transform food testing and regulation across the province. Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru, Advisor to CM for Relief Naik Muhammad, Secretary Food, Secretary C&W, DG Food Authority Wasif Saeed, and other senior officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. The laboratory houses eight specialized units under a single roof and is backed by a centralized Management Information System (MIS) and a digital traceability system. These features are designed to enhance transparency, speed up lab result access, and facilitate data-driven decision-making for both consumers and businesses. According to Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru, the lab can analyze over 1,500 parameters in 100 different food and beverage categories. "This is a game-changer for the province. It ends our reliance on other provinces and private labs. With this facility, we can directly enhance the quality of food our people consume," he said. The facility is not only a testing center but also a hub for research, development, and policy guidance. Integrated with KPFS&HFA's operational teams in over 20 districts, the lab will process field samples efficiently and securely, ensuring quick turnaround on results. The lab's extensive scope includes microbiological analysis to detect harmful pathogens such as Salmonella, E coli, and Listeria, chemical analysis to detect adulterants and toxins like aflatoxins and formalin, as well as nutritional profiling for fat, protein, moisture, ash, and caloric content. It also supports Halal certification and meat speciation to detect non-permissible species such as pork, donkey, or dog meat. Advanced services include identifying antibiotic residues in meat and milk, heavy metals in water, and pesticide levels in fruits and vegetables. Equipped with advanced technology like GC-MS, AAS, ICP-OES, HPLC, UHPLC, and FTIR, the lab is on par with global standards. Director General KPFS&HFA Wasif Saeed praised the provincial leadership's commitment, stating, "The successful and timely completion of this laboratory reflects our government's dedication to ensuring safe, healthy, and halal food for all residents of K-P." This facility is expected to foster interdepartmental coordination with sectors like Public Health, Agriculture, Environment, and Livestock, contributing to preventive healthcare and environmental safety while setting a new benchmark for food quality regulation in Pakistan.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Gandapur orders probe into Swat river tragedy
A rescue worker rows a raft while searching for survivors, after tourists, who were on a picnic, were swept away by overflowing floodwaters in the Swat River, in Swat Valley in Pakistan June 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced that a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the recent Swat tragedy, in which 14 people drowned in the Swat River. Speaking to the media after a court appearance at the Peshawar High Court, the chief minister said that anyone found negligent in the incident will not be spared. "The tragedy in the Swat River is extremely unfortunate. A committee has been constituted to probe the incident and is actively working. Those responsible for negligence or carelessness will be held accountable once the committee presents its report," Gandapur stated. He added that an indiscriminate anti-encroachment operation is underway across the province, particularly along the banks of the Swat River. "No one is above the lawillegal structures, no matter who they belong to, will be demolished," he asserted. Referring to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, the chief minister launched a scathing attack, saying, "He can't even win a councillor's seat ... how can he overthrow our government?" The chief minister reaffirmed his government's commitment to removing encroachments without any discrimination and said that similar operations would be launched wherever illegal constructions are found in the province. Meanwhile, a high-level delegation of the Polio Oversight Board (POB), led by Dr Christopher Elias, called on Chief Minister Gandapur in Islamabad to review and reinforce anti-polio efforts in the province. The delegation included representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Rotary International, and other global partner organizations. Also present were Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Farooq, and senior officials from the National and Provincial Emergency Operation Centers. During the meeting, the participants reviewed the province's ongoing polio eradication efforts and agreed on further streamlining and strengthening strategies to eliminate the poliovirus from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the continued support of international partners and reaffirmed his government's commitment to eradicating polio. "The fight against polio is not just a provincial issue but a national and global responsibility," he said. He noted that the provincial government is taking special measures to bolster the immunization program and has begun customizing anti-polio campaigns to fit the unique needs of each district. "Our strategy now involves local solutions to local challenges," he said. To enhance the outreach and acceptance of polio campaigns, Gandapur said elected representatives and religious scholars are being actively involved. He urged local leaders and clerics to help dispel misconceptions and boost public trust in vaccination efforts.
