Punjab government taking steps to discourage cruelty on animals

Photo: File

MULTAN: The Punjab government has decided to restart the process of imposing penalties on those involved in cruelty to animals. The move is part of an effort to protect the rights of animals and birds in the province.

According to official sources, the authorities in the province will soon start issuing penalties in cash and other measures by the end of this month to curb the practice of cruelty toward animals. 

The government has also directed the officials concerned to speed up the process of inspection for related offenses, and challan books will soon be distributed to the Society for Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). 

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Special magistrates at district level are being deputed to impose fines and other punishments on persons found involved in torturing animals, said a SPCA official.

Inspector Abu Sufyan said that a new law is ready to be tabled in the assembly soon that would increase the cash penalties on those being cruel to animals.

The government has further directed the district and sessions judges to depute special magistrates in their respective districts to monitor developments in this regard. 

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Responding to a question, Sufyan said that there are over 50 types of cruelties occurring on animals, including animal fights, torturing animal with sticks, chillies or sharp tools. 

He said that people also overload delivery animals, ignore treatment, deny them adequate living space, ignore their feed, and put them to work during the peak of the summer season without regard to their health. 

Although punishments for animal cruelty existed and were enforced in the past, they have largely been ignored by the government over the past few years. However, corrective measures are now being taken.