Syeda Aaleen Hussain
For a long time, animal welfare in Pakistan was viewed as a matter of personal kindness rather than public responsibility. It was associated with volunteer of feeding stray dogs or a passerby feeling sympathy for an overworked donkey on a hot afternoon. Compassion toward animals was often treated as a noble gesture, but not as a social priority.
That perception, however, is beginning to change.
Across the country, more people are recognizing that protecting animals is not merely an act of charity; it is a reflection of our values as a society. How we treat the most vulnerable beings around us says a great deal about who we are.
This change is increasingly visible in our laws, policies, and judicial decisions. Pakistan is gradually moving away from outdated and often cruel practices such as the mass poisoning and culling of stray dogs. Instead, animal welfare is finding a place within broader discussions of public health, environmental protection, and governance. Organizations such as Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants (EARC-Pakistan), co-founded by advocate Altamush Saeed, have played an important role in advancing these conversations and strengthening legal protections for animals.
A recent Islamabad High Court judgement on the management of stray dogs in the Islamabad Capital Territory reflects this evolving approach. The Court emphasized that public safety and animal welfare must be pursued together rather than treated as competing interests. Rejecting indiscriminate poisoning, shooting, and mass culling, it directed authorities to adopt humane and scientifically recognized measures, including catch-neuter-vaccinate-release programmes, rabies prevention, responsible waste management, public awareness campaigns and stronger institutional oversight. Significantly, the Court observed that animals are sentient beings capable of suffering and that a civilized society must protect them from unnecessary cruelty. The judgment reflects a growing recognition that animal welfare is linked not only to compassion, but also to public health, environmental balance, and the values of a just society.
Animal welfare is also gaining importance during times of crisis. In the past, livestock were often left behind during floods and other disasters, causing severe losses for farming communities. Today, initiatives such as Pakistan’s first Disaster Zone Farm Animal Shelter are helping address this challenge. These efforts are guided by the “One Health, One Welfare” approach, a global paradigm promoted by organizations like the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), WHO (World Health Organization) and WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) to unite human health, environmental protection, and animal welfare under a single policy framework. By doing so, they safeguard livelihoods, strengthen rural economies, and support food security.
Yet policies and institutions alone cannot create a more humane society. Laws can punish cruelty, but they cannot teach compassion. That responsibility belongs to each of us, often through simple acts such as placing water outside during extreme heat, slowing down when animals cross the road, or speaking up against abuse. As Pakistan moves forward, its progress should be measured not only by roads, buildings, or economic indicators, but also by how it treats it’s most vulnerable and voiceless inhabitants. Recognizing our responsibility toward animals is not simply good for them; it is essential for building a kinder and more civilized society.
