22 people died of dog bites in Sindh, 29,000 suffered injuries, SHC told

At least 22 people lost their lives after being bitten by stray dogs and around 29,000 others were injured in the province during 2025.

This was stated by a lawyer before a constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) during the hearing of his petition regarding the alleged failure of the authorities to take action against stray dogs in Sindh and the non-availability of vaccines under the rabies control programme.

The court directed the Sindh government, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other official respondents to submit their reports within four weeks.

Advocate Tariq Mansoor stated that in 2024, the court had ordered action against stray dogs and the launch of a rabies control programme. However, he added, despite clear court directives, the provincial government has yet to implement the rabies control programme. He claimed that the KMC helpline number 1093 has also become non-functional.

During the hearing, the court questioned the government lawyer on why court orders were not being implemented. In response, the government counsel claimed that vaccines are available at various locations and said a detailed report from the relevant director general would be submitted.

The petitioner further informed the court that incidents of stray dog bites are increasing with each passing day. The court remarked that the bench would review all aspects of the case after receiving the responses and then issue its order.

The petitioner urged the court to hear the case on a priority basis, stating that thousands of people across the province are being affected by dog bite incidents.