Islamabad – July 29 2025 Two Chinese firms have submitted formal applications to Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security & Research seeking licences to operate slaughterhouses and export donkey meat, bones and byproducts back to China for export – marking their legal bid towards creating an approved donkey meat supply chain in Pakistan for the first time, according to The News International’s SAMAA TV and Geo.tv broadcasters. Formalizing Trade Through Gwadar The applicants have proposed processing their products exclusively at designated facilities in Gwadar, Balochistan – Pakistan’s new central hub for donkey meat exports – according to ministry officials in order to prevent domestic distribution and maintain tight oversight over their supply chain. By processing exclusively through these designated locations in Gwadar and Balochistan they propose eliminating domestic distribution by maintaining tight oversight over supply chain operations (X (formerly Twitter), Geo.tv + 9 and The Daily CPEC = 9 + 9 One of these firms, Hengyang, has already signed a formal export protocol with Pakistani authorities; however, shipment cannot begin until regulatory clearances from both sides have been completed and approved – see SAMAA TV for updates +7 and The Daily CPEC +7 for details on that. Crackdown on Illegal Slaughterite The license applications come just days after authorities dismantled an unlicensed slaughterhouse operation near Islamabad’s Tarnol area and confiscated approximately 1,000 kg of donkey meat and over 40 live animals during a raid by the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) during which one foreign national and a local guard were arrested for illegal slaughter, with both being detained while police investigate further; their meat has since been destroyed while an investigation by SAMAA TV and Geo.tv +6. Irfan Memon, the Deputy Commissioner, noted that an illegal website had likely been involved in providing food supplies to both local foreign residents and potentially exporting meat abroad, though investigations are continuing into its full extent. Its Facebook +10; SAMAA TV +10. Market Pressures and Demand Pakistan now boasts an estimated donkey population of 6.05 million animals, increasing by nearly 109,000 since last year according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics figures. As global demand continues to surge for donkey meat and byproducts, officials believe formal export channels could bring much-needed foreign exchange. If carefully regulated, export licences could turn this industry into a viable export industry ProPakistani = +4, The News International = 4 and Geo.tv = 4. China remains one of the world’s major consumers of donkey products, consuming both meat and hides on an industrial scale. Donkey skin collagen forms part of traditional medicine ingredients e-jiao derived from donkey skin collagen which is considered cultural heritage in northern China–particularly Shandong province. Industry requires roughly 5.9 million skins yearly resulting in global donkey trade growing accordingly (Gulf News/The Daily CPEC/The News International/GW News +3) Local Impacts and Ethical Concerns While export could bring economic gains, animal welfare groups and local communities have expressed serious reservations. Rising donkey prices have had an outsized effect on low-income laborers reliant on these animals for transport and livelihood needs. Donkey prices in cities like Karachi have skyrocketed from under Rs 30,000 eight years ago to well over Rs 200,000 due in part to market demand from exports (economictimes.indiatimes.com). Critics warn that without robust safeguards and humane slaughter protocols, trade risks exacerbating animal cruelty, food safety hazards, and ethical abuses. Illegal slaughterhouses frequently lack sanitation standards resulting in contamination risks to public health as well as contamination risks for their consumers, Gulf News writes. Pakistan’s Regulatory Balancing Act Pakistan has taken steps to ensure exports are tightly managed, restricted to Gwadar operators who meet all safety and health regulations, with no donkey processing permitted elsewhere in the country. Authorities believe this centralized model will facilitate traceability, eliminate black market operations, uphold health and safety standards as well as promote traceability within supply chains (The Daily CPEC; Geo.tv and SAMAA TV both offer full coverage); This model should ensure traceability while also upholding health and safety standards (The Daily CPEC; Geo.tv +4 SAMAA TV +4 coverage); authorities believe this approach will ensure traceability whilst uphold health and safety standards (The Daily CPEC; Geo.tv +4 coverage); Authorities believe this centralized model should ensure traceability while upholding health and safety standards (The Daily CPEC +4); This model should ensure traceability while uphold health & Safety standards); authorities state this centralized model should ensure traceability while upholding health & Safety standards (The Daily CPEC +4) As officials review license applications, an ongoing debate over how best to balance economic opportunity with local livelihoods, animal welfare concerns and food safety risks has taken shape. At stake is the creation of a nascent market which may increase foreign exchange inflows but requires strict governance in order to avoid unintended repercussions.
