The absence of a comprehensive national framework for veterinary public health leaves Pakistan vulnerable to zoonotic outbreaks, as seen with COVID-19, foot-and-mouth disease, and avian influenza.
Islamabad – March 20, 2025: The National Animal Health, Welfare, and Veterinary Public Health Bill 2024, a landmark initiative aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s veterinary sector, remains stalled due to provincial inaction and bureaucratic neglect. Despite approval in principle by the Federal Cabinet, the bill has failed to move forward as provincial livestock departments have yet to provide their input, putting the country’s animal health, food security, and international trade compliance at risk.
The bill, formulated to align Pakistan’s veterinary services with global standards, introduces the One Health Approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health to prevent zoonotic diseases and strengthen disease surveillance.
(With livestock contributing 14.63% to the GDP and 60.84% to agricultural GDP, delaying this legislation threatens not only animal welfare but also Pakistan’s economic stability.)
After the 18th Amendment, animal health became a provincial matter, requiring input and approval from provincial governments. However, provincial livestock departments have failed to respond, despite repeated federal requests. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government recently held a meeting to discuss the bill, but concerns over provincial autonomy have overshadowed national interest.
Veterinary experts, livestock stakeholders, and public health professionals are calling for immediate action. Chief Ministers, provincial livestock ministers, and the Prime Minister must urgently prioritize this legislation by ensuring provincial assemblies pass the required resolutions.
Failure to act now will set Pakistan’s veterinary health and food security back by decades. The federal government must push for immediate implementation before further delays cause irreparable damage to the country’s economy, public health, and global trade standing.
The time for action is now – unjustified neglect is no longer an option!