Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an alarming rise in dog bite incidents, with more than 87,000 cases reported across the province during 2025, according to official data from the Health Department.
The department’s annual report shows that 87,364 dog bite cases were recorded in 2025, compared to 60,223 cases in 2024, reflecting an increase of over 27,000 cases within a single year.
District-wise figures indicate that Mardan reported the highest number of cases, where 13,328 people were affected by dog bites. In Peshawar, the situation worsened significantly, with cases rising from 655 in 2024 to 4,558 in 2025. This means more than 3,900 additional incidents were reported in the provincial capital within one year.
Other districts have also reported worrying numbers. Swat recorded 7,335 cases, Lakki Marwat 7,274, Abbottabad 2,683, Haripur 3,795, Buner 3,880, Shangla 2,534, and Lower Dir 5,576 cases. In addition, 1,233 cases were reported in Charsadda, while Nowshera recorded 1,731 dog bite incidents during the year.
Health experts have expressed serious concern over the rising trend, warning that unchecked growth in the population of stray dogs poses a major public health risk. They have stressed the need for an effective provincial strategy, better coordination between local governments and health authorities, and strengthened vaccination and sterilization programmes to control the stray dog population.
Experts have also emphasized the importance of launching large-scale public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on prevention, immediate medical response after dog bites, and timely access to anti-rabies treatment.
