Two Chinese firms have formally applied for licences to export donkey meat from Pakistan, officials confirmed, just a day after authorities uncovered an illegal slaughterhouse near the capital, recovering nearly one tonne of donkey meat and rescuing over 50 animals.
Sources reveal that the companies have submitted applications for establishing licensed slaughterhouses and securing export approvals, marking the first official step toward building a regulated supply chain for donkey meat and related byproducts, such as bones, from Pakistan to China.
Officials at the Ministry of National Food Security & Research stated that the proposals are currently under careful review. If approved, the exports will be routed exclusively through Gwadar, Balochistan, designated as the sole legal processing and export hub for donkey meat trade. Authorities stressed that any preparation or distribution outside Gwadar would be strictly prohibited to maintain oversight and prevent local circulation.
Officials believe that legitimate donkey meat exports could generate considerable foreign exchange for Pakistan. However, concerns remain about illegal operations. A foreign national was recently arrested for allegedly running an unauthorised donkey meat facility in Islamabad.
On July 27, the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) raided an illegal abattoir in Tarnol, seizing 1,000 kg of donkey meat and rescuing 50 live donkeys. An FIR has been filed, and the seized meat is being destroyed.
Pakistan’s donkey population, which now stands at over 6 million, has grown by more than 100,000 in the past year, according to government data. With China being a major consumer of donkey meat and hides—primarily for producing e-jiao, a traditional medicinal gelatin—the pressure on global donkey populations has intensified.
The e-jiao industry requires nearly 5.9 million donkey hides annually, and with regulatory hurdles now easing in Pakistan, legal trade in donkey meat may soon become a reality.
Also Read: Donkey Meat Selling Group Caught in Islamabad Food Raid
