Punjab Records Over 70,000 Dog Bite Cases in 2026, Lahore Worst Hit

Punjab has recorded 70,586 dog bite cases so far in 2026, according to the Punjab Health Department. The figures, reported on September 28, show that Lahore alone accounts for 30,514 of these cases. That is about 43 percent of all dog bites in the whole province.

Health officials say four people have died of rabies this year after being bitten by dogs. According to the department, the province is seeing around 400 dog bite cases a day on average. Government hospitals across Punjab are treating victims free of cost, with anti-rabies vaccines, post-exposure treatment and emergency care for wounds.

The new numbers have again raised the demand that district administrations take tougher action against stray dogs, including culling in the worst areas. But killing stray dogs is restricted by court orders in Punjab, and the issue has turned into a long legal fight.

Lahore Carries the Biggest Burden

Lahore's figure stands out. More than 30,000 people were bitten in the provincial capital in about nine months. People in many parts of the city complain that packs of dogs roam streets, markets and parks. A Lahore social worker told The Express Tribune in August that stray dogs can be seen even in the posh areas of the city.

The danger is real. In August, a 51 year old man died of rabies at Mayo Hospital Lahore after being bitten on the face. Only a few days earlier, another elderly patient had reportedly died of rabies at the same hospital. Doctors said bites on the face, head and neck are the most dangerous and need wound washing, the vaccine and a rabies immunoglobulin injection straight away.

What the Numbers Show

This is not a new problem. In April, the Health and Population Department submitted a report to the Lahore High Court. It showed 232,704 dog bite cases in 2024 and 243,299 in 2025. Another 38,586 cases were recorded in the first three months of 2026. In total, Punjab saw 514,589 dog bites from January 2024 to March 2026. Over that period, Dera Ghazi Khan had the most cases with 34,293, followed by Rahim Yar Khan with 33,122 and Faisalabad with 32,853.

The latest figures raise some questions. If 38,586 cases were recorded from January to March, then only about 32,000 were added from April to late September. That is a much slower pace than early in the year, and much lower than 2025, when Punjab averaged about 660 cases a day. The department has not explained whether bites have truly fallen or whether the latest count is incomplete.

The death count may also be lower than the real figure. According to the National Institute of Health, rabies is not a notifiable disease in Pakistan, which means hospitals are not required to report every case to one central system. The Express Tribune reported in August that Punjab had not released a total rabies death figure for the year.

The problem is not limited to Punjab. Sindh has crossed 200,000 dog bite cases this year, with at least 35 rabies deaths in the first nine months. The World Health Organisation has estimated that between 2,000 and 5,000 people die of rabies in Pakistan every year, though experts say there is no proper national tracking.

Courts, Culling and the Government's Plan

Punjab's official approach is written in the Punjab Animal Birth Control Policy 2021, which was made after earlier Lahore High Court rulings. Under this policy, stray dogs are caught, sterilised so they cannot breed, vaccinated against rabies and then released back in the same area. This is known as CNVR, or Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release. The idea is that over time the number of dogs goes down and fewer dogs carry rabies.

The courts have repeatedly stopped mass killing of dogs. In March 2025, the Lahore High Court issued a stay order against culling in the Eiraj Hassan case. In January 2026, its Rawalpindi Bench halted culling in Rawalpindi. In April, the Lahore district administration told the court it would follow the 2021 policy fully. By July, the court had admitted contempt proceedings after petitioners said the government was still not following its earlier judgment. The courts allow a dog to be put down only if it is incurably ill or badly injured, and only under a veterinary doctor.

Animal rights groups have alleged that city staff in Lahore continued to kill dogs despite these orders. These claims have not been confirmed by the authorities. On the other side, many residents say the sterilisation programme is too slow and that dogs are still multiplying in their streets.

The Punjab government says it has run anti-stray dog campaigns in high risk areas and awareness drives on rabies. Officials have also been told to improve waste management, because open garbage gives dogs food and helps their numbers grow. Residents, however, say these steps are not being carried out properly on the ground. The contempt case in the Lahore High Court is still pending, and the government will have to show the court what it is actually doing.

What to Do If a Dog Bites You

Rabies can be stopped completely if treatment starts in time, but once symptoms appear there is almost no cure. That is why the first hours after a bite matter most. Even a small bite or a scratch that breaks the skin should be taken seriously.

Wash the wound right away with soap and running water for about 15 minutes. Do not put chilli, oil, mud or any home remedy on it. Go to the nearest government hospital or anti-rabies centre the same day, where the vaccine is free. Tell the doctor exactly where you were bitten, because bites on the face, head, neck and hands may also need the immunoglobulin injection.

Most importantly, finish every dose of the vaccine on the dates the doctor gives you. Health experts say many rabies deaths in Pakistan happen because people either reach hospital late or stop the vaccine halfway. Keep children away from stray dogs, and report dangerous packs in your area to your local municipal office.