Animal rights in Pakistan

Letter April 23, 2013
The mounting number of stray dogs in all parts of the country poses a serious threat to the lives of general public.

KARACHI: I know it is outlandish to initiate a discussion or to show concern over animal rights in Pakistan, where, we all know, how basic human rights are violated with impunity. However, the mounting number of stray dogs in all parts of the country poses a serious threat to the lives of the general public. The only solution that the authorities come up with is to kill all such dogs, which is a highly cruel practice.

This problem can be easily solved in a much more civilised and humane way by just transferring them to a dog shelter where they can be treated well. For this to happen, measures should also be taken to develop dog shelters and other such facilities for animals. We do have the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890, under which it is a crime to kill any animal but this basic law needs to be implemented first before we think about legislating new laws in this regard.


Ali Hani


Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2013.