LAHORE: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Tuesday directed the Punjab health department to dispose of expired dengue vaccines from the government stocks.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial was hearing a petition moved by Advocate Noshab A Khan questioning the alleged use of expired medicines/vaccine by the government during the anti-dengue campaign.

The lawyer said medicines purchased in September 2011 were still stored in the godowns of the government even after the lapse of expiry date. He expressed his apprehension that the government might use expired medicines this year too like the past.

Representing the government, an additional advocate general undertook before the court that the expired medicines would not be used in any case. Justice Bandial directed him to ensure disposal of the expired medicines lying in the stocks.