Sindh faces rabies surge and Karachi illegal construction crisis

Sindh is facing a significant public health crisis due to a surge in stray dog attacks. In the first nine months of the year, 35 people died from rabies, and over 200,000 dog bite cases were reported across the province. In Karachi alone, major hospitals such as Indus Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, and Civil Hospital treated tens of thousands of victims. Experts emphasize that while vaccine availability is crucial, controlling the stray dog population through sterilization and effective vaccination programs is necessary to curb the spread.

Simultaneously, Karachi is struggling with a massive wave of illegal urban development. Data from the Sindh Building Control Authority reveals that only 1,016 construction maps were approved over the last 16 years. Despite this, thousands of buildings have been erected without legal authorization in areas including Scheme 33, Surjani Town, and Lyari. This lack of oversight has led to building collapses, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries. The slow and complex official approval process is cited as a primary reason why developers bypass legal channels.