Pakistan Launches First-Ever Animal Welfare Curriculum.PM Office and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE and Professional Training) inaugurated Pakistan’s first Animal Rights Curriculum today in accordance with the instructions from PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The initiative was launched one day before International Animal Rights Day to showcase the progress Pakistan is taking in this direction. This is the “Primary Level Phase 1 of the academic initiative for all institutes, both public and private, of Islamabad.
Pakistan Launches First-Ever Animal Welfare Curriculum For School Students
The long-awaited initiative founded on the value of the weak (animals that are unable to communicate for themselves) was revealed at an announcement today, led by the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The meeting was inaugurated with the director of the National Curriculum Council (NCC) Dr. Mariam Chughtai and was attended by high-level officials including the Chief of PM’s Social Reforms Unit, Salman Sufi, and the Assistant Education Advisor to the MoFE, Mariam Durrani; and the Special Secretary of Education South Punjab, Dr. Ehtasham Anwar.
In attendance were those who founded the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF), Ayesha Chundrigar from Karachi The founder of Justice for Kiki (JFK) Animal Rescue and Shelter, Zufishan Anushay from Lahore as well as Pakistan’s most renowned advocate for animal rights, Hira Jaleel, who is located in the USA.
About the Animal Welfare Curriculum
Salman Sufi previously said that this was just the beginning of many initiatives to follow. The Sufi also stated earlier this month the program includes numerous components to teach children about the rights of animals and highlighted that animal rights are prevalent in Islam as well as through the examples that are attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as well as other religious people.
He also revealed that students learn about different types of animals, how to look after them, and also how to ensure that animals who wander off are not hurt.
Pet rights activists are expected to be visiting schools to instruct children on the importance of having pets. The depth of the curriculum will be increased with each class, according to an announcement by Sufi.
The authorities are working to translate the Animal Welfare Curriculum into all the languages spoken in Pakistan which includes Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Siraiki, and Hindko.
Animal Rights Curriculum Purpose
After the opening remarks made by Minister Tanveer, Sufi, who is behind the initiative for a number of months, said that the initiative is a result of the indifference to animal species in Pakistani society. He also said that “the purpose of this reform is to target the most vulnerable sections of society (animals)”.
It aims to instill compassion for animals among students so that subsequent generations will be able to work on understanding what the previous generation didn’t, Sufi explained online via Zoom.
He hopes that this initiative can help improve Pakistan’s image internationally and present it as a nation that is a place where the most vulnerable members of society are taken care of and also encourage the provinces to take part in this initiative in the academic field.
Sufi added that the material in the course has Islamic reference to kindness and caring for animals is a principle taught and practiced in Islam.
Sufi also talked about the extensive and lasting effects of the course since students will be passing on the principles they have learned to their families and friends, creating an impact that ripples.
In the launch ceremony, students from the school who were referred to as “Animal Rights Champions” talked about their experiences of the rescue of animals and how they care for their needs.
The announcement of the groundbreaking initiative in the field of education via Twitter, Sufi remarked, “Our children will help shape the future of a more inclusive and tolerant Pakistan”.