The illegal use of hormone injections to boost milk production in dairy animals is reportedly increasing across the country, despite regulations banning the practice.
A recent survey found that cows and buffaloes at several dairy farms in the twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, are being injected with oxytocin to artificially enhance milk yield.
The practice has raised concerns among animal welfare experts, who warn that it causes severe pain and distress to livestock while posing potential risks to food safety and public health.
According to the report, these oxytocin injections are administered to cows and buffaloes to boost their milk yield. Like Pindi and Islamabad, the cities of Sindh province are also using this illegal practice.
The report states that Larkana, a city with a population of approximately 1.6 million, has around 5,000 buffalo herds, and many herd owners allegedly use oxytocin injections to increase milk production.
It further claims that while the use of these injections has been banned in other provinces of Pakistan, they remain available in Sindh. The report also alleges that consumers, including children, are drinking milk obtained from animals treated with these injections and claims that a large portion of packaged milk sold in the market is adulterated or fake.
Meanwhile, the customs authorities at Islamabad International Airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle prohibited veterinary injections intended to increase milk production in buffaloes.
According to customs officials, 8,900 veterinary injections were recovered from the luggage of a passenger arriving on Emirates flight EK612 from Dubai to Islamabad.
The injections were seized during baggage clearance, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Officials stated that milk produced after the misuse of these injections may pose health risks to consumers.
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