Pakistan exports 200,000 donkey hides and meat to China every year

As demand for donkey meat and hides increases in neighbouring China, Pakistan plans to export them to the country by the end of the year. Confirming this development, Dr Ikram, an official with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research, told Independent Urdu.

According to Dr Ikram: ‘The agreements with China cover the annual supply of 216,000 donkey hides and meat. Chinese companies, however, are showing interest in setting up slaughterhouses near the port of Karachi.”

He also said that due to food safety concerns, slaughterhouses in the city will not be approved to avoid affecting the local market. 

In a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce in July, the Commerce Secretary pointed out that there was no ban on donkey exports and that Pakistan had already started breeding donkeys.

He also revealed that new slaughterhouses were being built in Gwadar to facilitate these exports, while ensuring that the local market was not affected.

He recognised the need to maintain this population by encouraging local farms to start rearing donkeys. 

Pakistani columnist Tahreem Azeem, who studied in China, says donkey meat is a popular delicacy in China’s Hebei province, where donkey meat burgers are considered a speciality.

In addition to its culinary uses, donkey skin is also used in the production of traditional Chinese medicines.