HUMANS may be the most sentient creatures on earth, but it is their duty as custodians of the planet to recognise that other species are also sentient and should be cared for and protected. Unfortunately, cruelty towards animals is endemic in Pakistan, with horrific stories of abuse reported frequently in social and mainstream media.

On Eidul Azha, around 7.5 million animals are expected to be sacrificed in the country — a huge number for mass slaughter in a limited time frame, with implications for hygiene, health, biosafety, waste management, environmental issues and transportation. Each year, we see cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels being moved from one place to another, pushed along busy roads with sticks, or crammed into trucks, wagons and even rickshaws to and from animal markets.

In these dirty, overcrowded vehicles, there is little space for the animals to move: they are thrown at each other, sometimes breaking their limbs, at others collapsing with heat and dehydration. They are pushed up onto trucks and forced to jump down from these at the end of the journey. They are tied to vehicle frames by ropes that are too small for them, forcing them to hold up their necks in a painful position, sometimes even getting their horns stuck in the vehicle slats. Often cattle are injured or blinded when they are gored by the horns of other animals or when they lose their footing. They undergo torture, fear, stress and trauma.

Owners and transporters do not provide them with adequate food, water, rest, ventilation and protection from extreme heat. Vehicles aren’t disinfected, leading to the spread of disease and parasites. There are no standardised ramps, and no limits on the duration of journeys. At the same time, animal markets often lack shade, clean water, food and veterinary supervision. Butchers aren’t properly trained and slaughterhouses are insanitary with poor waste management.

Animal abuse in Pakistan remains a systemic issue.

Pakistan has few laws for animal welfare. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, that is still extant, prohibits causing “unnecessary pain or suffering” to animals, covers overloading, beating and cruel transport but the penalties for violation are very low. The Punjab and Sindh animal legislation of 2019 and 2022 is general in nature. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Animal Welfare Act, 2024, is more animal-centred and explicitly sets humane handling and transport standards along with increased penalties. However, animal abuse in Pakistan remains a systemic issue mainly due to lack of institutional commitment. Even where laws exist, there is hardly any capacity to enforce the provisions, such as regular inspection of vehicles, enforcing health and safety protocols, and prosecuting and penalising violators. There’s no dedicated infrastructure for animal transport, nor is there public awareness of these matters.

Pakistan as a member of the World Organisation on Animal Health recognises the sentience of animals and their five universal freedoms: from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, from fear and distress, from physical and thermal discomfort, from pain, injury and disease, and to behave in a manner innate in the animal’s own kind. Islamic teachings explicitly mandate the humane treatment of animals, including those designated for sacrifice. The guidelines include providing animals with kindness, food, water and shelter, protecting them from unnecessary suffering, and not slaughtering an animal in front of another animal or sharpening knives in front of it.

The government must initiate an awareness campaign before Eid through electronic / social media, mosques and banners to emphasise Islamic values such as kindness and care of all species, and especially sacrificial animals. It should also educate the public that abuse such as cruel transportation, painful slaughter, beating, dragging animals, or letting them go thirsty is haram.

To spread awareness among the public, the government can partner with organisations such as PAWS, ACF, CDRS, LAPS, TAWF, JFK, NKH, PARAG, Brooke, Todd’s, etc, along with livestock departments, municipalities, and educational institutions for greater impact. Last month, the government constituted a high-level committee under the climate change minister to address the issue of animal cruelty through boosting legislation and institutional frameworks. This is a step in the right direction, as climate change, environment and animal welfare are inextricably linked to rising temperatures, water scarcity and habitat destruction that are disrupting the life cycles of all species.

A ‘National Policy on Animal Protection and Welfare’ (on the cards since 2024) should include all these aspects of animal well-being and be finalised as soon as possible in consultation with farmers, veterinary professionals, transporters, union councils and NGOs.

The writer is CEO, ASD Welfare Trust.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2026