Pakistan’s National Food Security and Research Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain met with Zhao Fei, Vice President of China’s Donkey Industry, in Islamabad to explore the building of donkey farms in Pakistan. China is planning to set up donkey farms in Pakistan, and this meeting will be a significant step forward in Pakistan-China business cooperation. According to a recent press release, the minister praised the plan and emphasised the close bilateral ties between the two countries. A formal agreement will grant permission to establish these farms, provided that all legal requirements are met and precautions are taken to guarantee that the local donkey population is not impacted. Through this program, Chinese businesses would set up farms in the Gwadar Export Processing Zone, replete with export facilities and slaughterhouses, allowing Gwadar Port to export donkey meat. The action is anticipated to mark a new chapter in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by improving economic relations, increasing exports, and generating new job possibilities.

Strategic Development in Gwadar

China is planning to set up Donkey farms in Pakistan, and the choice to establish donkey farms near Gwadar is indicative of a calculated attempt to take advantage of Pakistan’s agricultural potential. The minister emphasised that these facilities would be located in the Gwadar Export Processing Zone, aligning with general economic objectives to improve export capacities. This comes after both nations finalised the “Protocol on Quarantine Requirements” for donkey meat exports at a high-level meeting in October 2024, a crucial step in promoting trade. A gradual approach to this new business was indicated earlier in July 2024 when Ahsan Ali Mangi, a Commerce Ministry official, revealed that protocols for donkey skins had been completed with intentions to include meat. With an estimated 5.9 million donkeys in Pakistan, this business capitalises on China’s rising demand for donkey goods, mainly traditional medicinal ejiao.

Although the project raises concerns about sustainability, it also promises economic benefits, including higher export earnings and employment creation. According to experts, donkeys’ sluggish reproductive rate—females normally give birth to one foal during their 11–14.5 month pregnancy—could pose a long-term supply issue. Critics say the demand for 5.9 million donkey skins worldwide yearly might burden populations if it is not strictly controlled. However, to balance economic benefits with environmental concerns, the government has promised that native breeds will be conserved.

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Economic Consequences and Prospects

This collaboration demonstrates Pakistan’s attempts to broaden its export base, historically dominated by rice and textiles. With the potential to generate substantial foreign cash, the donkey meat trade might establish Pakistan as a major supplier in China’s $8 billion ejiao market. As an export hub, the Gwadar Port is anticipated to gain strategic significance under CPEC, promoting regional commercial connections. The plan has generated controversy, though, as some religious authorities are against the slaughter of donkeys because of cultural sensitivities in Pakistan, where the meat is illegal.

Public acceptability, sustainable breeding initiatives, and efficient regulation will all be necessary for this endeavour to succeed. The government’s dedication to economic growth and legal supervision indicates a measured but aspirational strategy.

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