November 14, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
Animals crammed into tiny cages, stagnant water bowls, unhygienic enclosures, and sick creatures left unattended – these are the conditions that animal welfare workers say define pet markets across Pakistan, in particular the illegal ones. But the recent demolition of the illegal bird and pet market at Bhaati Chowk in Lahore, has pushed forward this issue into the national spotlight. Animal activists have been horrified by the multiple deaths of these animals and mean to advocate for the elimination of such pet markets.
Following the incident at Bhaati Chowk, the Lahore High Court directed the Punjab Wildlife Department (PWD) to submit a report within 30 days on the operation and present a framework to prevent similar incidents in the future. While shopkeepers accuse authorities of killing their animals during the demolition – a claim the LDA denies – animal rights activists argue that the real crisis is the existence of unregulated, inhumane pet markets themselves.
To understand the systemic failures and the reforms Pakistan urgently needs, Voicepk spoke to Sarah Jahangir, Director of the CDRS-Benji, one of the country’s prominent animal rescue and TNVR initiatives.
“We have a big shelter in Karachi, one in Islamabad, and a small one in Lahore,” Sarah told Voicepk. “We try to rescue as many abused or injured animals as possible. Last year, we rescued Cammy the camel from Sanghar, her leg was cut, and she became Pakistan’s first animal to receive a prosthetic limb. Usually, big animals are simply killed.”
She says the foundation of the problem lies in how the country perceives animals.
“The issue is plain and simple: animals are treated like commodities. If you go to a furniture market, furniture is piled up like garbage, they treat animals the same way. Because there are no animal rights laws defining even basic conditions like cage size, food, or water, animals have been sold for decades in the worst conditions. Selling them is morally wrong. But even if you do sell them, there should be some justice in how they are kept. Right now, nothing is regulated.”
The state of pet markets
Sarah described a system operating with no welfare standards and almost no oversight.
“Most of these markets operate without any regulation. Animals are kept in tiny cages, stacked in suffocating rooms, with no veterinary care and no monitoring. We often find animals sick, dehydrated, or dying because the system simply treats them as inventory, not living beings.”
However, according to her, traders rarely take responsibility for the creatures they sell.
“For many of them, these animals are commodities. If one falls sick or dies, they replace it. There’s no incentive to provide proper food or space because caring for animals increases their costs. And because there’s no accountability, they get away with it.”
Animal casualties at Bhaati Chowk
Regarding the allegations that animals ended up being buried alive under the debris, during LDA’s demolition of Bhaati Chowk, she said such tragedies were predictable when there was an absence of proper protocols.
“This is not the first time animals have died during a raid or closure. If authorities decide to shut down a market, there has to be a plan to safely remove and relocate the animals. Without coordination with rescue groups or the Wildlife Department, incidents like these will keep happening.”
Government gaps and confusion
Sarah notes that institutional confusion fuels the crisis.
“The biggest issue is that no department truly owns the responsibility. Local administrations, wildlife, municipal corporations, everyone assumes someone else is supposed to act. This gap leaves animals completely unprotected.”
What reform should look like
She stresses that regulation, not sporadic enforcement, is essential for meaningful change.
“We need clear laws, licensing, and regular inspections. Pet markets should only operate if they follow welfare standards for space, food, ventilation, and veterinary care. Without enforceable rules, shutting down one market won’t change anything.”
While a complete ban is often discussed, Sarah urges caution.
“A blanket ban sounds ideal, but the reality is that it will push the trade underground. What we can do, and urgently need to do, is regulate the markets, formalize the system, and ensure there’s actual accountability for how these animals are kept.”
But she adds that collaboration is crucial.
“Rescuers, activists, and authorities need to work together. If a market is being shut down or moved, call the rescue teams. Let’s help evacuate the animals safely instead of reacting after the damage is done.”
Experts say that the demolition of Lahore’s Bhaati Chowk pet market is only a symptom of a much larger crisis. Until Pakistan establishes clear animal welfare standards, proper oversight, and coordination between government bodies and rescue groups, the country’s pet markets will continue to operate at the expense of the animals inside them.