By: Zari Turk
There’s a change of trend regarding pets in Pakistan. People are getting more inclined to keep pets as a hobby. It is rather different than the native traditions where keeping animals for company used to be frowned upon in Pakistan, even in more cultured families.
Dr. Akmal Rana has been practicing vet in Islamabad for last 31 years. According to him, “There’s a positive improvement in trend of pets in Pakistan on a yearly basis.” When asked about reasons he said, “It’s probably because pet owners are receiving proper services for their pets. Thirty to thirty-one years back when I started my practice, there was no veterinary service. The diplomats were told before coming to Pakistan that there’s no veterinary services available in Islamabad therefore, consider not taking your pets to Pakistan. Now there are more vets coming, there’s pet food and other services are improving year by year. Also, people have money to spend on pets.”
With this inclination of people towards keeping pets there has been a noticeable change in market as well. Different pet accessory stores have opened up and the overall market is flourishing. Therefore, there’s a probability that in few years to come this will be a proper industry. Upon asking this from Dr. Rana he said, “No, the pet world will take about ten to twenty years to become a proper pet market.”
Nestle a few years back, conducted a survey about pet food in Pakistan and they also concluded that Pakistan is not a good market for manufacturing of pet food. However that might change in few years.
When we discussed the availability of pet services with the owner of pet cuisine, a local start up in Islamabad catering to pet food, he said, “People have always been fond of pets. People have always kept pets but in recent times the dog and cat food has been manufactured and gives convenience to the owners. Earlier people had to prepare food for pets now they just have to take it off a shelf and feed the prescribed dosage.” The pet food and accessories have made it easier for people to keep pets. Other products are also here that help in maintaining the hygiene.
This inclination towards keeping pets is not only because it is easier to keep pets. Pakistan is having a slight cultural change with time due to the emerging concept of westernization. From joint family structures we’re moving towards simple family structures with few people therefore, the basic emotional need is fulfilled through pets.
Zain Hashmi, a pet owner and a dog lover said, “To be honest, I think our nation has its own complexes, we follow west and therefore, whatever we see them doing, we follow it.” People are also in favour of keeping pets because they think it gives a sense of responsibility to the owners. Zain Hashmi also added to this by saying, “I have a pet dog and I have had three Labradors in the past so I am definitely a pet lover and I think dog is a very good companion and keeping pets is a way to know a lot about myself because when you have a pet it has feelings for you as an owner. It then benefits you in a way that you start caring for someone, for a living being. Your responsibility increases. I would recommend people of my age and even younger children to have pets because pets do give you a lot of sense of responsibility”.
The idea of companionship in form of pets gives you a sense of ownership in a different way. Another pet owner Mahnoor Lodhi was of the same view.
”I feel that with time people are becoming more aware regarding animals and pets. Since life is very fast paced, nobody has time for each other and I feel that pets fulfill this need instead. If I come back home after a long day I look for my cat first. I don’t know it’s just peaceful having a pet and I think that’s why people keep pets. There’s a mix at my home, we have a dog, a parrot and a cat. It’s a strange mix but that’s how we like it. People are also adopting pets that are rescued because obviously they also deserve a good home.”
We as humans should not only feel pain for other humans but for animals as well. This changing trend in Pakistan is an improvement regarding the attitude towards animals and this can bring the awareness regarding animal rights and protection as well.
By: Zari Turk
There’s a change of trend regarding pets in Pakistan. People are getting more inclined to keep pets as a hobby. It is rather different than the native traditions where keeping animals for company used to be frowned upon in Pakistan, even in more cultured families.
Dr. Akmal Rana has been practicing vet in Islamabad for last 31 years. According to him, “There’s a positive improvement in trend of pets in Pakistan on a yearly basis.” When asked about reasons he said, “It’s probably because pet owners are receiving proper services for their pets. Thirty to thirty-one years back when I started my practice, there was no veterinary service. The diplomats were told before coming to Pakistan that there’s no veterinary services available in Islamabad therefore, consider not taking your pets to Pakistan. Now there are more vets coming, there’s pet food and other services are improving year by year. Also, people have money to spend on pets.”
With this inclination of people towards keeping pets there has been a noticeable change in market as well. Different pet accessory stores have opened up and the overall market is flourishing. Therefore, there’s a probability that in few years to come this will be a proper industry. Upon asking this from Dr. Rana he said, “No, the pet world will take about ten to twenty years to become a proper pet market.”
Nestle a few years back, conducted a survey about pet food in Pakistan and they also concluded that Pakistan is not a good market for manufacturing of pet food. However that might change in few years.
When we discussed the availability of pet services with the owner of pet cuisine, a local start up in Islamabad catering to pet food, he said, “People have always been fond of pets. People have always kept pets but in recent times the dog and cat food has been manufactured and gives convenience to the owners. Earlier people had to prepare food for pets now they just have to take it off a shelf and feed the prescribed dosage.” The pet food and accessories have made it easier for people to keep pets. Other products are also here that help in maintaining the hygiene.
This inclination towards keeping pets is not only because it is easier to keep pets. Pakistan is having a slight cultural change with time due to the emerging concept of westernization. From joint family structures we’re moving towards simple family structures with few people therefore, the basic emotional need is fulfilled through pets.
Zain Hashmi, a pet owner and a dog lover said, “To be honest, I think our nation has its own complexes, we follow west and therefore, whatever we see them doing, we follow it.” People are also in favour of keeping pets because they think it gives a sense of responsibility to the owners. Zain Hashmi also added to this by saying, “I have a pet dog and I have had three Labradors in the past so I am definitely a pet lover and I think dog is a very good companion and keeping pets is a way to know a lot about myself because when you have a pet it has feelings for you as an owner. It then benefits you in a way that you start caring for someone, for a living being. Your responsibility increases. I would recommend people of my age and even younger children to have pets because pets do give you a lot of sense of responsibility”.
The idea of companionship in form of pets gives you a sense of ownership in a different way. Another pet owner Mahnoor Lodhi was of the same view.
”I feel that with time people are becoming more aware regarding animals and pets. Since life is very fast paced, nobody has time for each other and I feel that pets fulfill this need instead. If I come back home after a long day I look for my cat first. I don’t know it’s just peaceful having a pet and I think that’s why people keep pets. There’s a mix at my home, we have a dog, a parrot and a cat. It’s a strange mix but that’s how we like it. People are also adopting pets that are rescued because obviously they also deserve a good home.”
We as humans should not only feel pain for other humans but for animals as well. This changing trend in Pakistan is an improvement regarding the attitude towards animals and this can bring the awareness regarding animal rights and protection as well.
