Even as I write this article I can hear the barking of dogs in the distance. There has been such a solid growth of the dog population over the years that without the benefit of substantial statistics I can say with certainty that today in Karachi every road and side lane is breeding dogs and a majority of these dogs are not the friendly types but really aggressive, and attacking pedestrians and bike riders without any provocation.
These dogs are not just on the streets but also in the parks where especially at night they are a great hazard to a large number of joggers that throng these parks in pursuit of good health.
Even the park which I visit frequently there is always the danger that it will be invaded by a pack of dogs who stray in from the nearby kutchi abadi squeezing themselves through the wiring and scaring those on the jogging track. Here due to the vigilance of the park security staff no ugly incident has so far happened but in other areas of the city the story is quite different. You will be surprised to know that Over 29,000 dog bites and 19 rabies deaths were reported in Karachi in 2025, alone according to reliable statistics. This figure becomes even more horrific in the light of shortage of the rabies vaccination.
Few hospitals have it and not everyone has the knowledge of who can administer this vaccine which has to be administered within a certain specified time frame, otherwise it is curtains for the victim.
Stray dogs constitute a worldwide phenomenon. Globally, there are over 200 million stray dogs but they are not in good shape and face several issues like starvation, disease specially rabies. These stray dogs too are prone to accidents and have life expectancy as low as 3 to five years in developing nations.
Exact figures of stray dogs in Karachi is not known but there are reports of tens of thousands of dog bites which already stated are around 29,000 as reported by late 2025 and reported deaths are 19. One just have to check the daily record of hospitals specially in the poor localities to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Indus Hospital, which is very proactive in such cases, treats approx. 150 dog bite cases in a day. This is just one hospital.
Hampered by lack of education the near and dear ones of other dog bite cases might not understand the gravity of the situation or the importance of immediate treatment. Victims, specially children, are treated at home and pay the price for the ignorance of their elders.
There are many campaigns running to control the stray dog situation in Karachi. The rabies control programme, which is part of the rabies-free initiative, continues to vaccinate and neuter dogs and in a recent campaign treated 5,000 dogs. Many more such campaigns are required for the ever-spreading and bustling city of Karachi.
I cannot but compare the dangerous open manholes to the stray dogs who too can be found with gaping mouths, threatening our defenseless children. There have been horrific stories of attacks on children and even newborns in hospital maternity wards.
Lack of vigilance by certain hospitals is leading to tragedies that seem right out of a horror movie. I can understand the feelings of animal lovers but what is required is a balance between love of animals and love for our own children. Dogs are thriving and multiplying as they are fed by the garbage we throw out and especially around butcher shops.
The person throwing this is unmindful that he is contributing to the enlargement of the dog population with resultant consequences. It is unfortunate that between the stray dogs and open manholes there is not much space for the children of poor localities to enjoy life as is available for children in well to do areas of the city.
Between stray dogs and open manholes these children are living their lives as if between the devil and the deep blue sea. We cannot give quality education to these children or other facilities but we can at least devise a system in which they are protected from stray dogs and open manholes.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
The writer is a well-known columnist