Actor argues animals can understand and experience emotions, urging greater empathy towards them beyond instinct
Hira Soomro has urged her followers to reconsider how they perceive animals, arguing that their ability to think and feel should not be dismissed simply because they process the world differently from humans.
The actor shared an Instagram Story featuring a video of an animal approaching what appeared to be animal hide, with text on the clip reading, “She recognises the skin.” The post prompted Soomro to expand on what she described as the emotional and cognitive abilities of animals.
“For decades we have been treating animals as living being with no brain or feelings but it’s not true they too understand and feel. Their thinking might be instinctual but they do have thinking brain and can feel emotions,” she wrote in the Instagram Story.
Screengrab: hirasoomro_official/Instagram
Her message centred on the idea that animals should not be viewed solely through the lens of instinct. While their way of processing the world may differ from that of humans, Soomro argued that this does not mean they are incapable of understanding or experiencing emotions.
The post comes as discussions around animal welfare and the treatment of stray and domestic animals continue to receive attention in Pakistan. Other Pakistani celebrities have previously used social media to speak about the issue. In February, actor Ushna Shah spoke about animal rights, while Nadia Afgan addressed animal cruelty, violence and accountability.
Soomro is best known for her television work, including her role as Maryam in Tere Bin. She has also appeared in dramas including Chupke Chupke, Khuda Aur Mohabbat 3 and Tere Aany Se. She has built her profile through Pakistani television while remaining active on social media outside her acting work. She has also spoken publicly about balancing her career with motherhood.
