KARACHI, Aug 26: The population of stray and pye-dogs has grown manifold in various parts of the city, which may cause harm to citizens, especially the children and the elderly people.

The menace of pye-dogs has assumed an alarming proportion in various parts of the city owing to the stoppage of periodical anti-pye-dog campaigns, which used to be launched by various town administrations from time to time.

Confirming that the incidence of dog-bite cases was on the rise in the city, the doctors belonging to some of the major hospitals in the city said that on an average from two to three such cases were being reported almost daily in the hospitals.

Deploring that despite repeated announcements by the city government that all the 18 town administrations would simultaneously launch a joint anti-pye-dog campaign, the doctors said that the administrations had, so far, failed in this regard, resulting in a rapid growth of stray dogs in various city localities.

Residents of different localities also regretted that although they and their family members were highly perturbed over the increasing number of pye-dogs, neither the administrations of towns nor of the union councils were taking any concrete measures to eliminate the menace.

Investigations made in this regard showed that except for a couple of isolated campaigns, launched some time back in a few areas, the remaining towns had remained passive over the issue, despite the fact that a number of people, especially children, had become victims of dog bite.

"We have got fed up with the menace of stray dogs because they not only roam in our streets, but keep on barking throughout the night," an elderly person of PECHS Block 2 remarked.

Almost similar views were expressed by some of the residents of the PIB Colony, different blocks of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Federal B Area, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, New Karachi, Jehangir and Martin Quarters, Orangi, Baldia, Nazimabad, Paposh Nagar, Lines Area, Old Golimar, etc.