Punjab, Brooke Pakistan join hands to boost veterinary care for working equines

Chairing a meeting with a delegation from Brooke Pakistan, Punjab Secretary Livestock Ahmad Aziz Tarar said the department would continue

Lahore: The Punjab Livestock & Dairy Development Department has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with Brooke Pakistan to improve veterinary care and welfare services for working donkeys, horses, and mules across the province.

Chairing a meeting with a delegation from Brooke Pakistan, Punjab Secretary Livestock Ahmad Aziz Tarar said the department would continue its professional partnership with the international animal welfare organization to ensure timely, high-quality veterinary services for working equines, which remain a vital source of livelihood for millions of families in rural Punjab.

During the meeting, Brooke Pakistan briefed senior officials on its achievements, ongoing initiatives, and future plans. The organization, established in 1934 and operating in Pakistan since 1991, currently provides animal welfare and veterinary support in 44 districts of Punjab.

The delegation shared that Brooke Pakistan has treated more than one million working donkeys, horses, and mules, benefiting over six million people whose livelihoods depend on these animals. Over the past five years, the organization has also trained 3,460 communities in equine care, disease prevention, and animal welfare while providing specialized capacity-building programmes for around 2,000 veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and other animal health professionals.

Appreciating Brooke Pakistan’s contributions, Ahmad Aziz Tarar said working equines play an indispensable role in the rural economy, making their health and welfare a priority for the government. He emphasized that the Livestock & Dairy Development Department would continue joint efforts to modernize veterinary services, strengthen professional expertise, and promote animal welfare to ensure better support for livestock owners throughout Punjab.

The meeting was attended by Brooke Pakistan CEO Dr. Javed Gondal, Head of Programmes Dr. Manochehr Ali, Additional Secretary (Technical) Dr. Usman Tahir, Director General Research Dr. Sajjad Hussain, Director General Extension Dr. Syed Nadeem Badar, Director General Production Dr. Kanwar Naeem, and Director Communication Dr. Khaliq Shafi.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in equine welfare, veterinary care, professional capacity building, and joint training programmes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of working animals across Punjab.