New Slaughterhouse in Gwadar – Donkey Export to China Begin

Gwadar, Balochistan – A significant development in Pakistan’s agricultural and trade sectors has occurred with the establishing of the country’s first donkey slaughterhouse in the coastal city of Gwadar, Balochistan. The facility, which has already begun operations, is set to play a key role in the country’s growing trade relationship with China. 

What Happened to China’s Donkeys?

China’s donkey population has dramatically declined, falling by more than 80% to just under 2 million from 11 million in 1992. This steep reduction has significantly impacted China’s e-jiao industry, which relies on donkey skins to produce traditional remedies. 

In response, China has turned to countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan to fulfill its growing demand for donkey skins. Pakistan has become a key player in this trade, with most donkey skins exported to China being part of an illicit trade. 

In 2022, authorities seized a shipment in Karachi containing almost 10 metric tonnes of donkey skins destined for Hong Kong. The shipment had been falsely declared as carrying salt and handkerchiefs.

The slow reproductive rate of donkeys, with females pregnant for 11-14.5 months and typically giving birth to just one foal, has made it challenging to establish a farming system that can meet the annual demand of 5.9 million donkey skins required for e-jiao production. 

Experts from The Donkey Sanctuary have estimated that establishing a farming system capable of meeting these needs could take over two decades.

China-Pakistan Deal on Donkey By-Products

According to officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR), a deal has been finalized between Pakistan and China to export donkey hides and bones. 

A Chinese company has taken responsibility for the operations at the new slaughterhouse. This partnership is expected to boost trade in animal by-products, capitalizing on the growing demand in China for these materials.

During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Food Security, committee members raised questions about the rationale behind slaughtering donkeys in Pakistan instead of exporting them live to China. 

Ministry officials clarified that “exporting live animals is significantly more complex” than exporting their by-products, making the slaughterhouse the more viable option.

Expansion Plans Across Pakistan

The committee also learned that the ministry had received requests to establish similar donkey slaughterhouses in other regions of Pakistan. These requests indicate the potential for further collaboration with Chinese companies to set up additional facilities nationwide. The government is currently in talks with other Chinese firms regarding these possibilities.

Rana Muhammad Hayat, a committee member, raised concerns about the decreasing use of donkeys in Pakistan, primarily due to the growing reliance on motorized vehicles. He emphasized the need for breeding programs to improve the quality of the country’s donkey population to meet future demand.

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