Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has taken suo motu notice of the rising number of stray dogs in Islamabad and the growing reports of children and elderly citizens being bitten and harassed.
The Ombudsman expressed concern that negligence on the part of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has allowed the situation to deteriorate into a serious public safety issue.
He directed CDA and MCI officials to ensure strict implementation of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board’s policy on stray dog control. The directive follows complaints from residents across the city’s neighborhoods, parks, hospitals, and markets, where citizens have increasingly reported attacks.
Officials noted that a high-level committee had earlier been formed to address the issue, which led to the creation of a Dog Control Center (SDPCC) in Tarlai and the drafting of a formal policy by the Wildlife Management Board. However, the Ombudsman criticized authorities for failing to implement the policy fully.
The Ombudsman also recalled that he had previously intervened on the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in Islamabad’s public hospitals, directing the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan to ensure availability. Following multiple hearings, the vaccines are now accessible in all public hospitals in the capital.
Recently, Director General of the Ombudsman Secretariat Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed compiled a comprehensive study report on stray dogs in Islamabad, reviewing laws, regional practices, and suggesting measures to curb the growing problem. The report highlighted that unchecked stray dog populations are contributing to disease, environmental pollution, and accidents, with children and elderly citizens particularly vulnerable.
