The government of Sindh has announced the expansion of its rabies control program, establishing 250 treatment centers across the province and planning 20 additional facilities to improve access at district and tehsil levels.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, attended by divisional commissioners, health department officials, representatives from local government, Indus Hospital, and other stakeholders. The meeting focused on the Sindh Rabies Control Program (RCPS) and strategies to curb the deadly viral disease.
Officials highlighted that rabies, primarily transmitted through dog bites, claims approximately 59,000 lives globally each year, with Pakistan reporting 2,000 to 5,000 annual deaths. Sindh has been identified as a high-risk province, necessitating urgent and coordinated preventive measures.
Currently, 250 centers provide immediate post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency care to bite victims. The additional 20 centers under development will be upgraded in phases to ensure quality services. Preventive measures, including vaccination, sterilization, and monitoring of stray dog populations, will be carried out through 20 specialized RCPS centers. A live online dashboard is also being created for transparency and monitoring of the program.
The project’s total cost is Rs963.316 million, with Rs302.988 million (31.4 percent) already spent as of October 31, 2025. Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah emphasized timely release of funds and removal of administrative obstacles to accelerate implementation.
He added that the program’s progress will be regularly reviewed, with the ultimate goal of making Sindh a rabies-free province through effective and timely measures.
