China eyes Pakistan’s donkey meat market

ISLAMABAD: Two Chinese companies have formally applied for licenses and permission to set up slaughterhouses for the export of donkey meat from Pakistan.

According to officials at the Ministry of National Food Security, a detailed inquiry is currently underway into the applications.

The ministry said donkey meat and bones will be allowed for export to China once the regulatory process is finalised.

China uses donkey meat and hides not only for culinary purposesbut also for making traditional Chinese medicine e-jiao. This medicine is made from donkey skin collagen, believed to improve blood circulation, immunity, and skin health.

The officials added that the meat and bones would be exported via Balochistan’s Gwadar port, which is expected to bring in valuable foreign exchange.

Read more: Young couple shot dead in Karachi in suspected ‘honour killing’

To address public concerns, the ministry clarified that donkey meat would only be processed in Gwadar and not distributed to local markets.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country’s donkey population reached 6.047 million in June 2025, An increase of over 109,000 in the past year.

However, with growing demand from exporters, donkey prices have skyrocketed.