KARACHI, Feb 9: The anti-pye dog drive launched by the health department of the Karachi city government has failed to deliver the desired results due to lack of cooperation between the department and town administrations.

Feb 8, the last date for the submission of progress report and feedback has passed but only Gulberg and Orangi towns, out of the 18 towns of Karachi, have responded.

During the drive Gulberg Town killed 66 dogs while Orangi Town killed 83. However, no town has announced the launching of the drive.

In a follow-up letter to the towns, the city government has directed town health officers (THOs) to coordinate with town administrations in this regard and provide details of the poison used to kill the dogs, the number of dogs killed and the remaining stock.

It has also been directed that town administrations announce the date of the drive in advance so that the public can keep their pets indoors on that day.

A number of towns had asked the health department for permission to purchase strychnine ( poison) to launch the anti- stray dog drive. Keeping in view the sensitivity of issue and the risk involved in handling this highly poisonous substance, the EDO health had directed all the towns to send their demands so that a central purchase could be made.

The health department purchased more than 4000 strychnine capsules and distributed them to the towns, but due to lack of coordination the desired results could not be achieved.