KARACHI, Sept 9: The menace of stray dogs is assuming an alarming proportion in various localities of the city, giving rise to dog-bite cases and creating a frightening atmosphere on roads, streets and even in and around parks and playgrounds.

A visit to different parts of the city would show that the population of stray dogs has increased to such an extent that even busy commercial areas and bus stops are not immune from this menace, causing a scare among shoppers and commuters.

People returning home after performing night duty and those visiting their local mosques — particularly during Isha and Fajr prayers — suffer the most, as stray dogs not only keep on barking, but in some cases rush towards them, forcing them to literally run to protect themselves, as they are aware of the painful reaction and the costs of anti-rabies injections which are administered to dog bite victims.

A number of stray dogs could also be seen in parks and playgrounds and at different commercial centres such as Burnes Road, Empress Market, Lea Market, Tariq Road’s commercial area, Karimabad’s Memon Market, Jehangir Park, and in the vicinity of Quaid’s mausoleum.

Complaints of dogs roaming on roads and streets have been received from most localities, including Soldier Baazar, Patel Para, Kharadar, Lines Area, Burnes Road, Sharea Liaquat, Korangi, Orangi, Baldia, Saddar, PIB Colony, Hyderabad Colony, Liaquatabad, Keamari, Jehangir Road, PECHS Block 2 and Jehangir Road.

Perturbed over the presence of dogs on their neighbourhood streets, people residing in the vicinity of the so-called green-belt that bifurcates PECHS Block 2 and Behind Lines Area, complained that although a number of dogs usually roam their streets, the staff concerned of Jamshed Town have not launched any effective anti-pye dog campaign to provide them relief from the increasing number of stray dogs.

Residents of other localities suffering from stray dog populations suggested that all 18 town administrations’ of the city should immediately launch a joint anti-pye dog campaign simultaneously, in all parts of the metropolis, because all previous anti-pye dogs campaigns which different town administrations’ had launched in their respective jurisdictions had proved to be exercises in futility.