Pak city announces cash reward of Rs 25 for killing rats

Peshawar: Authorities in rat-infested Peshawar city of Pakistan on Thursday announced a cash reward of Rs 25 for killing a rodent after an infant died of rat bite.

The government decided that to get rid of the menace, the general public must be involved and an incentive of Rs 25 should be offered for each rat killed.

The Water and Sanitation Service Peshawar (WSSP) will set up points in the four towns of Peshawar for collecting dead rats and paying money to the killers. Mobile services will also be launched to help rat killers get their money.

Rat poison will be distributed door to door. The meeting was called by District Nazim Peshawar, Muhammad Asim to discuss measures for handling the menace of big giant rats which are not only posing serious health hazards, but are also causing damage to masses by attacking and biting them.

The new breed of giant rats with a size measuring 22 to 30 centimeters (12 inches) are being witnessed in the provincial metropolis Peshawar for the last a few years.

The rodents which are rare due to its huge size, aggressive nature and growing population, is not only causing damage to public property and edible goods, but are also posing serious threats to public health.

Rat bite has now become a common happening in Pakistan due to frequent incidents. Recently, an infant was killed due to rat bite on his face in Hassan Gari area of the city.

The rat bite incidents and killing of an infant has also drawn the attention of provincial legislatures who recently took up the issue in provincial assembly and asked the government about measures for eradication of the menace.

A two-member bench of Peshawar High Court on March 10 admitted for full hearing a writ petition filed against presence of large number of rats here and sought comments from authorities including provincial health secretary, deputy commissioner and sanitation authorities.