Dr Musadik Malik leads first meeting on animal cruelty, calls for nationwide reform

Pakistan has taken a new step toward strengthening animal welfare and wildlife protection, with Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik chairing the first meeting of the newly formed Committee on Cruelty to Animals.

The committee, established on the direction of the Prime Minister, has been tasked with developing a comprehensive national framework to address animal cruelty, improve enforcement mechanisms, and review existing legal provisions. Its mandate also includes curbing illegal wildlife trade, improving stray animal management, and recommending reforms to care facilities across the country.

During the meeting in Islamabad, officials highlighted major structural challenges affecting animal welfare efforts, including weak coordination between institutions, overlapping responsibilities, insufficient veterinary infrastructure, and limited enforcement of existing laws. Participants also pointed to gaps in penalties, lack of centralized monitoring systems, and low public awareness as key obstacles.

The committee was briefed on ongoing concerns over wildlife trafficking, with species such as falcons, freshwater turtles, big cats, crocodiles, birds, and primates reportedly targeted by illegal networks operating through Pakistan.

Officials also discussed current efforts in the capital, noting that the Capital Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad have initiated a TNVR programme (Track, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release) for humane stray dog management. However, the meeting stressed the need to expand volunteer participation and strengthen operational capacity for such initiatives.

Other issues raised included illegal animal fighting rings, and the circulation of cruelty-related content on social media for engagement and publicity. Dr Malik warned that such practices reflect deeper ethical concerns and called for stronger deterrence.

He directed authorities to collect baseline data from all provinces ahead of the next meeting and to prepare detailed estimates for expanding vaccination and neutering programmes nationwide. He also called for a full legal review to identify gaps where animal cruelty and wildlife offences are not adequately addressed.

Dr Malik emphasized that cruelty against animals contradicts basic principles of humanity, adding that meaningful reform would require collaboration with provincial governments, experts, and animal welfare activists. The meeting also underscored the importance of public awareness campaigns, particularly regarding the reintegration of vaccinated and neutered stray animals into communities.

Representatives from multiple ministries, local authorities, and civil society organizations attended the session.