Federal health authorities have mandated a unified and intensified crackdown on the burgeoning dengue threat in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as hospitals in the twin cities are currently treating nearly 100 patients for the vector-borne disease.

The directive was issued by Federal Secretary for Health, Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, during a high-level review session held at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Headquarters on Friday. The gathering included top officials such as CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak, alongside senior administrators from both municipalities.

During the session, representatives from the health department presented a briefing on the current dengue situation. It was reported that 50 patients are presently receiving treatment in Islamabad’s medical facilities, while 45 are admitted in Rawalpindi. Despite these figures, officials noted that the number of cases recorded so far is lower than the corresponding period last year.

Officials assured the attendees that government hospitals are well-prepared to manage the patient load. They confirmed that sufficient beds have been allocated for dengue cases and that there are adequate stocks of essential testing kits, medicines, and other necessary medical supplies.

Voicing a need for greater vigilance, the federal health secretary ordered strict surveillance of all sensitive locations identified as potential hotspots. He stressed the importance of enhanced coordination between the administrations of both cities, particularly in their boundary areas, calling for immediate action to clear any high-risk zones.

The health secretary urged the joint execution of operations by Islamabad and Rawalpindi authorities to effectively eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. The briefing also confirmed that fogging and spray campaigns are being conducted at an accelerated pace to control the spread of mosquito larvae.

Echoing the call for a comprehensive approach, CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa highlighted the critical need to increase public awareness about preventive measures, with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as the elderly and children.

Concluding the review, Sheikh reiterated his firm directive that both city administrations must function as a single, cohesive team to successfully combat and eradicate the dengue virus from the region.