Chinese Firms Seek Licences to Legally Export Donkey Meat from Pakistan

Two companies based in China have applied for licences to export donkey meat and bones from Pakistan. The applications cover both slaughterhouse operations and export clearance and are currently under review. If approved, the companies will be permitted to process and export donkey products exclusively through Gwadar, Balochistan. No other location will be allowed for meat preparation or shipment to prevent local distribution. The development comes a day after the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) raided an illegal slaughterhouse in Tarnol on July 27. The raid led to the recovery of 1,000kg of donkey meat and the rescue of over 50 live donkeys. A foreign national was detained at the scene, and an FIR has been registered. Initial investigations suggest the meat was intended for export. Authorities have launched further inquiries to determine other possible distribution points. Pakistan’s donkey population has risen by 109,000 over the past year, reaching 6.047 million, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.