QUETTA: In a landmark move for animal welfare, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has unveiled a comprehensive new policy aimed at protecting animal rights and humanely managing the stray population in the provincial capital. The policy explicitly bans the culling of stray cats and dogs in Quetta, marking a significant shift from traditional methods.
The Chief Minister, in an official statement, declared that slaughter is not a solution. Instead, the government will enforce the implementation of modern, scientific, and humane practices. He directed the Quetta Municipal Corporation to immediately cease all killing and adopt internationally recognized standards for animal management. This move, he stated, is part of a broader vision to transform Balochistan into a safe province for all living beings.
Central to this policy is the proper execution of the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program. To combat the use of unscheduled or fake vaccines, the government has partnered with the non-governmental organization Panah Quetta. This collaboration has already initiated the safe capture, sterilization, and vaccination of stray animals against infectious diseases like rabies.
Officials emphasize that this dual-pronged approach addresses both ethical and public health concerns. It is designed to end violence against animals while scientifically tackling the threat of zoonotic diseases, thereby creating a safer urban environment. Chief Minister Bugti also made a public appeal, urging citizens to cooperate with the administration in these initiatives and support the government’s determination to uphold animal rights.
The administration has expressed its resolve to permanently institutionalize this animal protection framework, with the goal of establishing Quetta as a civilized and animal-friendly city, setting a new precedent for urban management in the region.
