KARACHI:
A few weeks ago, I witnessed a painful scene in Sukkur city. A man sped by in a high-end car, a small stray dog was in his path, and the car struck it with tremendous force. The man glanced towards the dog for a moment, the dog was lying badly injured on the roadside, struggling in pain. Yet, after that brief glance, the car moved on. No stopping. No help. Just a living creature left behind as though its suffering meant nothing.
That moment made me wonder how much animal suffering goes unnoticed. Across Pakistan, animals are harassed, beaten and abused for fun and enjoyment. Birds are captured and kept in cages for sale. Black bears are forced to perform for entertainment. Other animals are killed, and their body parts are used for so-called black magic. Donkeys and camels are often forced to carry overloaded goods for human profit, and a large number of stray dogs are poisoned annually.
To address this, Pakistan needs stronger animal-welfare laws and enforcement, reliable reporting and data collection, veterinary and rescue services, humane stray-animal management, and public awareness. Ultimately, how we treat the voiceless reflects who we are.
Manahil Hashimi
Sukkur
