B y Our Correspondent
LAHORE: In a landmark step towards ethical and sustainable livestock farming, the Pakistan Animal Rights Advocacy Group (PARAG) successfully organized the country’s first-ever International Farm Animal Welfare Summit 2025 in Lahore.
Held under the theme “Advancing Ethical & Compassionate Animal Farming for a Greener Future,” the one-day summit brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including policymakers, veterinary and livestock experts, climate scientists, religious scholars, legal professionals, farmers, and animal rights advocates from across Pakistan and abroad.
Ms. Ayeza Haider, Chairperson of the Pakistan Animal Rights Advocacy Group (PARAG), inaugurated the historic summit by shedding light on its core objectives. As the organizer of the country’s first-ever summit dedicated to farm animal welfare, PARAG aims to spark a national conversation on ethical and humane treatment of farm animals. In her opening remarks, Ms. Haider emphasized the urgent need for compassionate farming practices, policy reforms, and collaborative efforts to improve animal welfare standards across Pakistan.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, emphasized that animal welfare is a critical pillar of sustainable agriculture and national food security. He called for aligning Pakistan’s livestock systems with international humane standards.
Prominent speakers included Ahmed Rafay Alam, environmental lawyer, who highlighted the ecological and legal impacts of industrial farming; and TOD SHAE renowned international animal rights activist, who shared insights on global best practices in compassionate farming.
Other distinguished speakers included professor Dr M Mazhar Ayaz, VC Cholistan University of veterinary and animal science, Dr. Muhammad Arshad (Member, Punjab Higher Education Commission),
Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed Khan,
Dr. Bushra Nisar Khan (PARAG), Dr. Zahid Farooq,
Dr. Sajjad Hussain (Director General Regulations, Livestock & Dairy Development Department),
Prof. Dr. Aneela Zameer Durrani, Dr. Huriah Shah,
Dr. Qurratul Ain, Dr. Shahzad Saleem, Dr. Farhan Farooq (KK Chicks), Dr. Sadia Khalid, Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani (University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, UVAS), Dr. M. Tariq (University of Agriculture, Faisalabad) and Prof. Dr. Naseem Ahmad (Former Vice Chancellor, UVAS)
The summit featured presentations of field research, policy dialogues, and the launch of a national initiative to promote humane and ethical livestock farming practices in Pakistan.The event marked a historic milestone as the first dedicated platform to address farm animal welfare in Pakistan. The summit aimed to spark a national conversation on humane livestock practices, bridging the gap between ethical concerns, Islamic principles, scientific advancements, and environmental sustainability. At the conclusion of the summit, certificates of participation were distributed to all attendees, marking the beginning of a collaborative journey toward improving farm animal welfare nationwide.
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