Govt forms committee to curb animal cruelty, tighten legal framework

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2026) Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik on Wednesday chaired the first meeting of a newly constituted committee tasked with addressing animal cruelty and strengthening wildlife protection laws across the country.

Formed on the directions of the prime minister, the Committee on Cruelty to Animals has been mandated to develop a comprehensive framework for animal welfare, assess the prevalence of abuse, and recommend preventive and enforcement measures.

Officials told the meeting that Pakistan faces multiple structural challenges in protecting animals, including weak coordination among institutions, overlapping departmental mandates, insufficient veterinary infrastructure, and limited enforcement of existing laws.

Participants also highlighted low penalties for animal cruelty, lack of a centralised monitoring system, and resource constraints as key impediments.

The committee was briefed that Pakistan remains vulnerable to illegal wildlife trafficking, with species such as falcons, freshwater turtles, big cats, crocodiles, birds and primates reportedly smuggled through organised networks.

The meeting noted that the Capital Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad have initiated a TNVR (track, neuter, vaccinate and release) programme in various sectors of the capital to manage stray dog populations humanely.

A volunteer-based system is also supporting feeding and care efforts, though participants stressed the need for broader engagement and a more robust operational framework.

Concerns were also raised over illegal animal fighting rings and the growing trend of sharing videos depicting animal cruelty on social media for publicity and online engagement.

Malik directed officials to compile baseline data from all provinces before the next meeting to better assess the scale of the issue.

He also called for estimates of financial and infrastructural requirements for expanding neutering and vaccination programmes nationwide.

Emphasising that cruelty to animals runs contrary to basic human values, the minister ordered a comprehensive review of existing laws to identify gaps, particularly in cases where offences are inadequately criminalised or poorly enforced.

He also pointed to public resistance in some communities to the return of neutered and vaccinated stray dogs, underscoring the need for awareness campaigns.

The minister further directed that animal welfare experts and activists be consulted in policymaking, and stressed the importance of coordination with provincial governments to ensure effective implementation.

The meeting was attended by officials from the climate change and interior ministries, representatives of municipal authorities, members of the National Commission on the Status of Women, and civil society activists.