Seminar on “Animals Welfare and Human Health” held

Lahore: The animals have become an integral part of human lives, particularly in the rural areas, where these are major source of income for the population and moving a significant economic circle. The health of animal is as important as the health of humans but this area is being neglected by most of the people. Threat of shifting a destructive from the animals to human will always be there until and unless health is not focused.
These views were expressed by the experts while addressing a seminar on Animals Welfare and Human Health at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The provincial Minister for Livestock & Dairy Development Department Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak, LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Animal Healthcare and Rights Nabila Intisar, Pro-Rector University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Masood Rabbani, Dr. Javaid Shah, Uzma Khan former LCCI Vice President Mian Zahid Javed Ahmad and Executive Committee Member Sheikh Sajjad Afzal were the key speakers.
The provincial Minister for Livestock & Dairy Development Department Sardar Hasnain Bahadur Dreshak said that the livestock and dairy are one of the prime areas of focus for the government as these not only can improve the living standard of the people in rural areas but can also earn handsome foreign exchange for the country. He said that the health of animals is a key to achieve the desired goals.
He appreciated the effort made by LCCI for gathering the experts under one roof for discussing animal rights and welfare. He said that caging or mistreating animals is a major sin. It is true that laws have been enacted worldwide for the protection of wildlife and animals in general. However, negligible implementation of these laws is witnessed. He said that the consistent efforts by the participants will also encourage government to work efficiently and speed up its role for maintaining the welfare of animals and their rights.
LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah said that both humans and animals are living closer together than ever before. In today’s modern time, pets like dogs, cats, pigeons and parrots etc. form human-animal relationship in urban areas. So far as rural areas are concerned, there is a wide range of animals like horses, buffalos, goats, sheep, camel and hen etc. which co-exist with humans.
He said that the main purpose of holding the seminar is to educate the participants about animal welfare so that we all remain healthy and safe while being in close contact with animals or using the products obtained from animal sources like meat, milk and eggs etc.
The LCCI President said domesticated animals and pets must be properly vaccinated and their physical examination should be done on regular basis by the veterinary doctors. Everyone needs to understand that any negligence on our part can result in severely hazardous.
He said that like humans have variety of diseases, all the animals can also develop ailments because of various reasons like poor living conditions, changes in weather, outbreak of seasonal infections and lack of proper care.
There is another area of concern that is related to stray animals especially street dogs. Citizens including children bitten by stray dogs have to face serious medical complications due to non-availability of dog vaccine. This area needs special attention of the government.
LCCI Vice President Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry said that few health disorders in animals are caused due to thoughtless acts of humans mainly done to attain extra benefits. “We are least bothered about excessive use of steroid hormone drugs being injected to animals for obtaining excessive milk or meat”, he said and added that it is happening at a wide scale in our society with no control or regulation. He said that the concerned government departments must look into this matter as human health cannot be compromised.
Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Animal Healthcare and Rights Nabila Intisar shed light on the aims and objective of the seminar called to create awareness among the stakeholders about the need for health of the animals.
Masood Rabani said that all segments of society should take responsibility. He said that the animals shall be taken care as per the international laws. He said that without implementing the international standards, exports of livestock sector cannot be jacked-up.
Uzma Khan said that welfare of animals is not limited to feeding but it also covers freedom, healthcare and good environment for living. Kiran Saleem spoke about the problems related to zoos in Pakistan.