Actress Nadia Jamil shared an impassioned appeal to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, asking her to take steps towards preventing animal cruelty in the province in line with her larger commitment to child welfare.

An open letter shared jointly by Jamil and actress Uzma Hassan, said it had been “well established that violence against animals directly contributes to violence in society”.

The document said Pakistan, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, has a responsibility to protect children from psychological harm, including exposure to animal cruelty.

Jamil’s letter said exposure to animal cruelty affects children’s emotional development and “normalises brutality, weakens empathy and fosters fear and emotional distress”. Additionally, it said “individuals who engage in cruelty toward animals often experience unresolved psychological trauma, which can later manifest in domestic violence, elder abuse, and broader criminal behaviour”.

The appeal ended by reaffirming confidence in the chief minister’s “commitment to building a safer, more compassionate Punjab” and reminding her that, “A society that safeguards its most vulnerable – whether children or animals – builds stronger moral foundations for future generations.”