KARACHI: Newly appointed Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput on Saturday directed the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to control the increasing cases of dengue in the city and ensure that larval breeding sites were spayed.

He also directed all deputy commissioner in the city to contact the health department and officials of the Dengue Control Programme to take effective steps for fumigation.

At a meeting held under his chairmanship, the commissioner was told that spraying work had been started immediately in district East.

The commissioner told the officials that they should work together with the dengue control programme officials and issue a schedule in this regard.

He directed them to ensure fumigation at nurseries, tire shops and other water collection points to eliminate the larvae.

It was decided that all the deputy commissioners will ensure fumigation at tyre shops and under-construction buildings where water was stored on open places for construction work.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Rajput, a grade-20 officer in the Pakistan Administrative Service, assumed the charge of his office as Karachi commissioner.

Prior to his new posting, he had been working as the secretary of department of transport and mass transit.

Mr Rajput replaced Muhammad Iqbal Memon, who has been posted as home secretary.

The new commissioner has served in different positions in the provincial government, including secretary of services and general administration, special secretary of finance, besides serving as secretary of finance in Gilgit-Baltistan government, where he also served as the secretary of mines and minerals, labour and commerce.

Mr Rajput also served as the deputy commissioner in Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur.

He was the deputy commissioner in district South in Karachi.

Speaking to Dawn, he said that in addition to his duties, he and his team would extend every possible help and support to the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in Karachi division.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023