To commemorate World Animal Protection Day, Brooke Pakistan convened a high-level provincial symposium and community awareness campaign in Lahore, uniting government authorities, veterinary researchers, and grassroots animal health practitioners to champion the welfare and legal protection of Pakistan’s working equines.

A multi-stakeholder coalition for animal welfare organised in strategic collaboration with the Punjab Livestock & Dairy Development Department, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS Lahore), and Rescue 1122 / PARC, the event highlighted the indispensable socio-economic contribution of horses, donkeys, and mules to national food systems and urban haulage. The gathering emphasized that safeguarding animal welfare is integral to public health, antimicrobial stewardship, and community livelihood stability under the global One Health framework.

Key Highlights & Provincial Milestones

During the Lahore ceremony, Brooke Pakistan and its partners launched several joint welfare initiatives:

Recognition of Frontline Animal Health Providers (AHPs): Awarded shields and certificates of excellence to 25 community paravets and street farriers who demonstrated outstanding adherence to the Animal Health Mentoring Framework (AHMF) and humane treatment standards.

Strengthening Emergency Equine Rescue: Formalised referral and transport pathways with Rescue 1122 and PARC in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan to ensure rapid shelter transport for abandoned or injured cart equines.

Compassionate Handling Demonstrations: Held practical demonstrations of the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) restraint technique and distributed over 200 padded halters to cart owners, replacing painful hobble chains.

Public Awareness & Outreach: Organized a community awareness walk and distributed educational booklets to young veterinary students, reinforcing animal ethics and zoonotic disease prevention.