A donkey slaughterhouse has been established in Gwadar and has officially begun operations, officials from the Ministry of Food Security revealed during a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Food Security.
The facility, operated by a Chinese company, is part of an agreement with China for the export of donkey hides and bones. Ministry officials stated that exporting processed donkey products is more feasible than sending live animals due to logistical complexities.
Committee members raised concerns over why live donkeys were not being exported instead, to which officials explained that international regulations and transport difficulties made it impractical.
The ministry also disclosed that it has received multiple requests for similar facilities in other parts of Pakistan and is currently in discussions with additional Chinese companies for potential partnerships.
Rana Muhammad Hayat, a member of the committee, highlighted the declining use of donkeys in Pakistan due to the rise of motorized vehicles. He suggested launching breeding programs to enhance the quality of the country’s donkey population to meet potential export demands.
The establishment of the Gwadar donkey slaughterhouse marks a significant step in Pakistan’s growing livestock export sector, with China emerging as a key market for donkey-derived products.
