SWABI: Leaders of various political parties here on Saturday criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for not taking proper measures to control dengue epidemic in different areas of the province. They contested the provincial health minister`s claim that the situation with regard to dengue outbreak had been brought under control.

Awami National Party district president Ameer Rehman told mediapersons that over eight deaths had been reported due to dengue fever in Peshawar during the last few days.

He lauded the Punjab government`s help to KP in the elimination of dengue virus.

Qaumi Watan Party district president Masood Jabbar said that the government`s f ailure to curb the spread of dengue virus in Peshawar had led to confirmation of cases in Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi as well. `It is an alarming situation for the people of these districts,` he said.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz central leader Liaquat Ahmad said that the rising number of cases had exposed the KP government`s health reforms and tall claims about the provision of health facilities to the people.

Meanwhile, with the confirmation of two new cases here on Saturday the number of dengue fever patients now stood at eight here in the district, said district health officials.

They said that at present four patients had been under treatment in isolation ward of Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Shahmansoor. The two new patients, identified as Waqar Khan and Javid Khan, belong to Swabi Khas and both are employees of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company.

The eight positive cases have been reported from Swabi Khas, Ismalia, Hamlet, Batakara and Charbagh village.

When contacted, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, who belongs to Swabi district, said that the areas where the dengue positive cases had been reported would be put under surveillance. He said that the health officials would trace the case of each dengue patient that how and where he was infected.

Answering a question, Mr Tarakai claimed that the situation was under control as the provincial government had already taken steps for controlling the spread of dengue virusinthe province.

VISIT POSTPONED: The visit of PTI chairman Imran Khan to the district, scheduled for today (Sunday), has been postponed due to his engagements in Islamabad, said PTI sources.