The amendments to the act were approved in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mehmood Khan on Tuesday.

The government approved the following amendments to the Act for the welfare of animals that would be considered a crime if anyone is found involved in these activities:

• Inciting animals to fight
• Cruelty to animals and overloading

Sources said that action would be taken against those found involved in such activities and penalties would be imposed as prescribed by law.

Pakistan relies on animals for laborious tasks. Equine animals, which include horses, donkeys, and mules, face the brunt of abuse in most cases.

Overloaded donkey carts, those pulled by a horse or a mule or an ox, are a common sight on the roads. These carts are loaded clearly in excess of the capacity of the animal.

Similarly, for some people, particularly those residing in the rural parts of Pakistan, cockfighting and dogfighting are ‘cool’ sports. Roosters or dogs are placed in a ring and forced to fight till death only for the sake of the amusement of spectators who gamble.

Betting is illegal under the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977. However, despite the fact that betting is illegal, heavy bets are placed on cockfights and dogfights.