Federal committee meeting in Islamabad exposes deep systemic gaps in animal welfare laws, enforcement, and wildlife protection, signaling sweeping reforms ahead.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a significant step toward tightening its animal welfare and wildlife protection framework as Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik chaired the first meeting of the Committee on Cruelty to Animals on Tuesday in Islamabad.
The high-level session, formed on the Prime Minister’s directive, opened a comprehensive review of animal cruelty laws, enforcement failures, and rising concerns linked to illegal wildlife trade and stray animal management across the country.
During the meeting, officials flagged serious structural weaknesses in the system, including poor coordination between departments, weak penalties under existing laws, lack of centralized monitoring, and limited veterinary infrastructure. Participants noted that these gaps have allowed cruelty-related incidents and wildlife trafficking networks to persist with minimal deterrence.
Authorities were briefed that Pakistan continues to remain vulnerable to organized wildlife trafficking networks involving species such as falcons, freshwater turtles, big cats, crocodiles, birds, and primates, often smuggled through illegal cross-border channels.
The committee was also informed about ongoing humane initiatives in Islamabad, where the Capital Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad are implementing a TNVR (Track, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release) programme to manage stray dog populations. Despite these efforts, officials highlighted resistance from some communities in accepting sterilized animals back into public spaces.
In addition, concerns were raised over illegal animal fighting rings and the growing trend of cruelty-related content being circulated on social media for engagement and visibility, which officials described as a troubling cultural and ethical challenge.
Dr. Musadik Malik directed that baseline data be collected from all provinces before the next meeting to assess the nationwide scale of animal cruelty and wildlife challenges. He also ordered detailed planning for scaling neutering and vaccination programs, including financial and operational requirements.
He emphasized that animal cruelty contradicts fundamental human values and called for a full legal review to identify gaps in criminalization and enforcement. The minister further stressed the need for stronger collaboration with provincial governments and inclusion of animal welfare experts and activists in policymaking.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Ministry of Interior, CDA, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad, National Commission on the Status of Women, along with civil society representatives and animal welfare advocates.
The committee is expected to finalize a comprehensive reform framework aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s animal protection laws, improving enforcement systems, and addressing both wildlife trafficking and urban stray animal management.
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