An non-profit organisation in Karachi, Pakistan has rescued dozens of pets from a market that was closed following a nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Pakistan.

Footage filmed on March 29 shows the animal arriving at the shelter, where they will be looked after.

Ayesha Chundrigar, Founder of ACF Animal Rescue, is heard saying: "The distressed animals were left starving and locked in cages at Empress Market. When the volunteers reached the place, they found hundreds of dead animals along with the ones who were rescued."

Among the rescued animals were dogs, cats and birds.

According to reports, the pets were abandoned by shop owners when the market closed.

Taking cognizance of the fragile state of affairs of stray animals, volunteers of a non-profit organisation rescued dozens of pets from a market that has been closed following a nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Pakistan.

The incident took place in Karachi on March 29.

According to a video several pets were shipped inside boxes and taken to a shelter where they would be looked after. 

In the video, a woman who cannot be seen is heard saying the distressed animals were left starving and locked in cages at Empress Market. When the volunteers reached the place, they found hundreds of dead animals along with the ones who were rescued.

Among the rescued animals were dogs, cats and birds.

The video also shows a kitten taking its last breath.

The pets were abandoned by their owners in the pet shops, reports said.

Lockdown measures were tightened in Pakistan as the COVID-19 positive cases increased along with the death toll.

As shops were forcefully closed down, it left the shopkeepers with no other option but to abandon the pets. 

Hundreds of pets were even dead as they were dehydrated without anything to eat, no ventilation and light.