Brooke Pakistan – Pakistan's Largest Working Animal Welfare Organization
Coal Mines Projects
Working donkeys are an essential part of Pakistan's coal mining industry. Every day, they transport coal and supplies through steep, narrow, and physically demanding environments, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of mining families. Despite their vital contribution, these animals often work in challenging conditions where access to welfare support and animal health services is extremely limited.
Brooke Pakistan is working to improve the welfare of working donkeys in coal mining communities by strengthening local animal health systems, improving access to essential welfare resources, building the knowledge and skills of animal owners, and working in partnership with local stakeholders to create sustainable, long-term change.
Understanding the Challenge
Brooke Pakistan's assessments in coal mining areas, including Makarwal, Khushab, and Chakwal, identified significant welfare challenges affecting working donkeys.
The demanding working environment, combined with difficult terrain, heavy workloads, long working hours, and extreme weather conditions, places considerable pressure on their health and welfare. Common welfare issues include foot problems, lameness, work-related injuries, poor body condition, inadequate nutrition, and poorly fitted pack saddlery.
These challenges extend beyond the animals themselves. Many coal mining communities are located in remote and underserved areas where access to trained veterinary professionals, animal health services, essential medicines, clean drinking water, and basic welfare facilities is limited. As a result, animal owners often have few opportunities to access the support and knowledge needed to improve the welfare of their working donkeys.
Brooke Pakistan's Response
To address these challenges, Brooke Pakistan has established an Equine Welfare Service Centre in the Makarwal coal mining area.
The centre serves as a hub for improving equine welfare by strengthening the local animal health system, enhancing welfare infrastructure, promoting preventive welfare practices, and building the knowledge and capacity of donkey owners through community engagement. Working closely with local communities, coal mine owners, government departments, and other stakeholders, the project aims to deliver sustainable improvements in the welfare of working donkeys while ensuring timely support for animals that require care.
How the Project is Making a Difference
The project has been designed around the identified needs of working donkeys and the communities that depend on them.
Strengthening Animal Health Services
The project is strengthening local animal health services by supporting veterinary professionals, improving access to essential medicines, and ensuring that working donkeys can receive appropriate care when needed.
Improving Welfare Resources
Working donkeys will benefit from improved welfare infrastructure, including access to clean drinking water, shaded resting areas, green fodder, and other essential resources that help reduce the impact of demanding working conditions.
Building Knowledge and Good Practices
Brooke Pakistan works closely with donkey owners and users to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to preventive healthcare, humane handling, and responsible animal management while addressing harmful myths and practices that negatively affect equine welfare.
Creating Sustainable Change
The Equine Welfare Service Centre is more than a service delivery point—it is a centre for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
It provides opportunities for veterinary professionals to demonstrate good practices, mentor local service providers, and promote practical approaches to improving equine welfare. The project also monitors animal health and welfare trends, supports continuous learning, and explores innovative approaches that strengthen local animal health systems.
By working alongside communities and institutions, Brooke Pakistan is building a model that delivers lasting improvements well beyond the life of the project.
Looking Ahead
The Makarwal initiative has been established as a pilot model. Its progress and outcomes will be carefully monitored and evaluated to assess its effectiveness and identify opportunities for replication in other coal mining areas across Pakistan.
Through evidence, partnerships, and continuous learning, Brooke Pakistan aims to demonstrate a sustainable approach to improving equine welfare while contributing to stronger local animal health systems in some of the country's most challenging working environments.
Improving Welfare, Supporting Communities
Healthy working donkeys are essential to the livelihoods of the families who depend on them. By investing in prevention, knowledge, partnerships, welfare infrastructure, and stronger animal health systems, Brooke Pakistan is helping create healthier working equids, more resilient communities, and sustainable improvements that will benefit both animals and people for years to come.