Govt Lifts Ban on Donkey Hide Exports, Sets Strict New Conditions

The federal government has officially lifted the ban on the export of donkey hides, amending the Ministry of Commerce’s Export Policy Order. This move reverses a 2015 decision by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which had prohibited the export of donkey hides amid concerns over the illegal sale of donkey meat disguised as beef and mutton in various cities. Under the new policy, the export of donkey hides will be strictly limited to firms and companies operating in designated, approved, or registered donkey slaughterhouses located within the Gwadar Free Zone. The notification makes it clear that the previous ban on exporting donkey hides has now been omitted from the Export Policy Order. The decision comes after the Senate Standing Committee on Commerce was informed last July that protocols for exporting donkey skins and meat to China had been finalized, alongside agreements for the export of onions, potatoes, and chillies. However, the move has also reignited concerns about animal welfare. In August, a consultative workshop on the role of working equines in supporting livelihoods and addressing emerging threats to donkeys, horses, and mules highlighted the scale of the global donkey skin trade. Of the world’s 55.5 million donkeys, an estimated 6 million are killed annually for their hides.