PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on October 28 issued notices to the provincial government, the health department and other relevant authorities to submit replies in a petition regarding the spread of dengue and chikungunya and the lack of preventive measures.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that dengue cases had significantly increased this year and directed the government to inform the court about the steps taken to control the situation.
The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Faheem Wali. The petitioner, Muhammad Hamdan advocate said in his writ petition that dengue and chikungunya had spread across Peshawar and the province, resulting in several deaths.
Many people, he pleaded, were still suffering from these diseases in hospitals and at homes. Despite numerous reports and complaints, he argued that no effective measures had been taken to eliminate dengue, nor were sufficient efforts being made to prevent further spread.
He contended that Peshawar’s rapidly growing population, coupled with the lack of proper waste management, had created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. The existing institutions and healthcare infrastructure, the lawyer maintained, had failed to control the spread of these diseases, while coordination between the health department, district administration and sanitation agencies remained poor.
The petition says that under Article 9-A of the Constitution, citizens have a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, a right that is currently being denied. Furthermore, laws related to public health, sanitation, and environmental protection are not being enforced, contributing to the spread of diseases.
There is also a lack of public awareness and no effective mechanism for monitoring or preventing these outbreaks. The petitioner prayed the court to direct the concerned authorities to conduct fogging and spray operations in affected areas and provide free medical treatment to dengue and chikungunya patients. The court subsequently issued notices to the provincial government and other institutions, seeking their detailed responses.
Published in The NEWS on October 29, 2025.
