PESHAWAR: The city district government started a rat killing campaign here on Friday night.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Peshawar District Nazim Mohammad Asim Khan. Nazims of four towns, officials of the Water and Sanitation Programme (WSSP), Peshawar, livestock and health department attended the meeting, according to a statement.

The participants discussed ways to control the spread of rodents in the capital city.

The meeting decided that the rat killing campaign would target Hassan Ghari and areas surrounding the Shahi Khata drain.

The WSSP officials were directed to play lead role in the rat killing drive.

District nazim Asim Khan also directed district officer finance, Peshawar, to release Rs25 cash reward on killing of one rat.

He told the meeting that the district government would play its due role in ridding Peshawar of rodents. He also directed the officials to regularly update him on the operation against rats.

The rats issue sprang up after a minor child died of wounds inflicted by rat bite some days back. The issue has also been raised in the provincial assembly and Peshawar High Court is also hearing a case about rat infestation of the city.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2016