The federal government has officially lifted the decade-old ban on donkey hide exports, allowing conditional trade as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
The restriction, first imposed by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in September 2015, has now been withdrawn.
According to the 2024 Agriculture Census, Pakistan’s donkey population has reached 4.9 million. Punjab tops the list with 2.403 million, followed by Sindh (1.081 million), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (782,000), and Balochistan (630,000). Islamabad recorded 4,000 donkeys.
Reports indicate that in China, gelatin derived from donkey hides is widely used for health and anti-aging purposes. The skins are boiled to produce gelatin, later processed into powders, capsules, liquids, or food additives.
An international report estimated that over 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered annually worldwide for this demand, with animal welfare groups warning of a sharp rise in consumption.
To boost Pakistan’s Economy, Senate Panel Proposes Boosting Donkey Exports to China
