A Constitutional Bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Sindh government and other relevant authorities to submit reports within four weeks on a petition highlighting the failure to control stray dogs and the non-availability of vaccines under the provincial rabies control program.
The two-member bench, headed by Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed, issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by Advocate Tariq Mansoor. The petitioner informed the court that despite earlier court orders, authorities had failed to take effective action.
During the hearing, it was disclosed that at least 22 people died due to dog bites in 2025, while nearly 29,000 people were injured across Sindh.
Counsel for the petitioner said that in 2024, the Sindh High Court had ordered the authorities to take measures against stray dogs and to implement a rabies control programme. However, these directives were not implemented. This programme urged the need for humane population control practices such as sterilization and vaccination instead of mass culling.
He also pointed out that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s helpline 1093, established to receive complaints regarding stray dogs, had become non-functional.
The bench questioned the government lawyer over the failure to comply with previous court orders. In response, the law officer claimed that vaccines were available and assured the court that a detailed report would be obtained from the relevant director general and submitted.
Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed observed that the court would review all aspects of the matter after receiving the replies before issuing further orders.