Actor Nadia Jamil has made a strong appeal to Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab, calling for urgent action to prevent animal cruelty and highlighting its impact on child welfare and society.
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In an open letter co-signed by actor Uzma Hassan, Jamil stressed that violence against animals contributes to broader societal violence and negatively affects children’s emotional development.
The letter cited United Nations guidelines, noting that as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Pakistan is obligated to protect children from psychological harm, including exposure to cruelty toward animals.
Referring to a recent incident in Gujranwala, where sanitation workers allegedly mistreated a stray dog, the appeal underscored the need for humane approaches such as sterilisation and vaccination in line with existing policies.
The actors also raised concerns about the treatment of wild and domestic animals, pointing to reports of lions being paraded for entertainment, abuse of working animals like donkeys, and illegal captivity of monkeys and birds.
The letter argued that exposure to such acts can normalise violence among children, weaken empathy, and contribute to long-term psychological harm, potentially leading to broader patterns of abuse in society.
Jamil expressed confidence in the provincial government’s commitment to reform, urging authorities to take concrete measures to promote compassion and enforce animal protection laws.
The issue has gained traction among public figures, with actors Ushna Shah and Zhalay Sarhadi also previously raising concerns about animal welfare in Punjab.
