Islamabad:Acting on the prime minister’s directive, the federal government has constituted a high-level committee under the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination to address animal cruelty and strengthen the country’s animal welfare regime.
According to a notification, climate change minister Dr Musadik Masood Malik will serve as convener of the committee, which comprises Minister of State for Interior Talal Choudhry, environment and wildlife activist Syed Rizwan Mehboob, secretary of the National Commission on the Status of Women Humaira Zia Malik, animal rights activist Anila Umar, Islamabad's Chief Commissioner and CDA chairman Lt (r) Sohail Ashraf as well as the inspector general of forests, who will act as secretary.
The government has tasked the committee with examining rising cases of cruelty against animals and proposing measures to strengthen protection mechanisms in line with national and international standards and submit its recommendations by April 27. The Ministry of Climate Change will provide secretariat support.
Its terms of reference include reviewing existing legal and institutional frameworks, recommending improvements and proposing the establishment of shelters and veterinary care systems for rescued animals.
The committee has also been mandated to assess illegal wildlife trade, suggest stronger enforcement against poaching and smuggling and develop monitoring systems for wildlife conservation.
Public awareness will be another key focus, with plans for nationwide campaigns on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in coordination with government bodies, NGOs and international partners.
It will also explore integrating animal welfare into education curricula and urban planning policies to broaden public awareness and institutional response. On stray animals, the committee is to recommend humane population management strategies, including sterilisation, vaccination drives and community-based interventions.
The government has already introduced a comprehensive animal welfare law to curb animal cruelty through stricter penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The legislation, initially applicable in Islamabad, also banned tests and surgical procedures on live animals and introduced reporting mechanisms, regulation of pet markets and stronger enforcement measures.
