RAWALPINDI: Walks and seminars were held here on Thursday to mark the World Polio Day and to create awareness about the dangers of dengue fever and the crippling disease of polio.

Organised jointly by the district administration of Rawalpindi and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), a walk on the city`s 6th Road was led by Rawalpindi Commissioner retired Captain Saqib Zafar and Punjab Health Secretary retired Captain Mohammad Usman.

A large number of students of both public and private educational institutions of the city, Additional Deputy Commissioner (headquarters) Saima Younis and other officials took part in the walk.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Zafar said that eradication of dengue fever and polio was a challenge for the people of Rawalpindi and urged people from all segments of society to play an acdve to achieve thistask.

He said with drop in temperature cases of dengue fever would also decrease, but all departments concerned needed to be vigilant as per the SOPs throughout the year to ensure effective control of dengue in future.

Meanwhile, speakers at a seminar, held at the Government Girls Degree College, Satellite Town, said that students should play a leading role by in creating awareness about the dangers of polio and dengue fever.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Saif Ullah Dogar said that though no case of police was reporte d in Rawalpindi in the last decade, the danger of polio still existed because samples of polio virus had been in the city.