Pakistan Exports Donkey Meat to China for the First Time
Pakistan has completed its first export of donkey meat to China, marking a new development in bilateral agricultural trade and value-added livestock exports.
According to officials associated with the project, the inaugural shipment was produced in the Gwadar Free Zone, cleared customs at Tianjin Port, and has officially entered the Chinese market.
Milestone for Gwadar Free Zone
Project representatives described the shipment as the first food product manufactured in the Gwadar Free Zone to be exported to China.
Officials acknowledged the support of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, and other government institutions in facilitating the project.
The export is being viewed as part of broader efforts to expand trade under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Export Process and Regulatory Approval
Preparations for the export were completed over several years.
Pakistan and China finalized the required export protocols for donkey meat and donkey hides in 2024. Pakistan also updated its export policy to permit shipments from approved slaughterhouses operating within the Gwadar Free Zone.
Before exports began, the processing facility received the necessary quarantine and customs approvals from Pakistani authorities as well as China’s General Administration of Customs.
Investment in Livestock Exports
The exports are being handled by Hengeng Trading Enterprise, a Chinese company that has invested in Pakistan’s livestock and agriculture sectors.
The company has established a $50 million processing facility in the Gwadar North Free Zone for the processing and export of donkey meat and hides.
According to officials, the project is expected to support value-added livestock exports, encourage foreign investment, and create employment opportunities in the region.
Growing Trade Opportunities
China is one of the world’s major importers of donkey meat and donkey hides, which are used for food products as well as the production of Ejiao, a traditional product made from donkey hide.
Pakistani authorities believe the new export initiative could help diversify the country’s agricultural exports and further strengthen trade cooperation between Pakistan and China.
