Pakistan Bans Live Animal Testing After Disturbing Videos From Veterinary School Go Viral

9th July, 2022

In a series of shocking videos, students in Pakistan’s veterinary colleges and industrial complexes were spotted surgically operating on live stray canines.

Upon public outrage, the Pakistan Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and other institutions were urged by animal welfare societies to end the cruelty. Salman Sufi, head of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Strategic Reforms Unit initially decided to start discussions about improvements in animal testing.

But after PETA’s letters about the same, Sufi later proclaimed, “Live testing of animals in vet colleges and industrial complexes is banned from today in Islamabad Capital Territory.”

The Official Ban On Testing And Surgeries On Live Animals

In a heartening move, the government finally made testing and surgeries on live animals illegal. These were hitherto being allegedly conducted in clandestine ways at veterinary schools and industrial complexes in the central capital. But the perpetrators would have to cease and desist from such inhumane acts as the government has outlawed them and declared a Rs 15,000 or $73 fine for animal cruelty. The offenders may also face a jail term.

Sufi additionally promised alterations to the country’s first wide-ranging animal welfare laws. The revisions will be presented in the National Assembly for discussion and sanction during the subsequent session. Furthermore, PETA says that they will present recommendations with Sufi in an imminent meeting that they’ve already arranged.

PETA’s Hand In The Plea

There was recent public scandal over videos uploaded to social media of budding veterinary pupils operating on live dogs who were in pain. The students had reportedly sneaked away the street dogs. Following the hue and cry, PETA representatives made ardent petitions to 3 universities that had pupils involved in the incident. Moreover, they urged the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination to look into the matter. One of their letters read-

“Without a doubt, veterinary students need supervised hands-on experience with live animals. [It’s] an important aspect of their clinical training and preparation. However, this training can be accomplished ethically without harming animals.”

They then tried to make accessible realistic simulation models on which the pupils could practice their surgical skills.

Speaking of the issue, PETA Vice President Shalin Gala says, “Pakistan’s landmark reforms will ban tests and surgeries on live animals for veterinary education and shift to sophisticated, humane methods. PETA is delighted to have shared recommendations for improving veterinary training with Salman Sufi, and we look forward to our upcoming meeting with him to discuss further critical reforms in biomedical research and training that will both spare animals’ lives and benefit patients.”

Animal Testing In The Industry At Large

A lot of other corporations have voiced their opposition to animal testing. Most recently the USDA opted to end all mammalian testing by 2025. A lot of such animal testing is done in the pharmaceutical sector and beauty industries as well before sanctioning the products as fit for human use.

However, PETA revealed that the National Institutes of Health spends $12 billion every year on such testing that is futile at the end. The tests on mammals fail in 90 percent of cases making it unnecessarily cruel and also a waste of money. Right from monkeys, to white mice, rabbits, and dogs, companies use these creatures in painful experiments. It is high time we outlaw animal experimentation overall around the world.

Like this? Read: 7 Reasons Why Animal Experimentation Is Just. Not. Right.

Read More: Florida High School First In The World To Use Synthetic Frogs For Dissection