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OPINION MAY 16, 2025 | The Indian Eye 13

might be consumed domestically as a China. Hangeng Trade Company is last decade. To conclude, it can be mentioned
by-product, meat which is forbidden part of the confederation of industries It is considered that currently Pa- that Pakistan while facing severe do-
for Muslims. During that year, it was associated with CPEC. kistan has nearly six million donkeys, mestic political and economic chal-
reported that there were nine million Its officials mentioned that the and there is significant room for grow- lenges, is trying to claw at every op-
donkeys in Pakistan. However, the establishment of this slaughterhouse ing donkey farms, which would be a portunity to continue its relations with
smuggling of donkey hides to China would process donkey meat as well as steady source for the profitable ex- China, however arduous it might seem.
continued during the period of the ban. donkey skin directly to China without port product. However, unregulated It has been observed by some that Pa-
Nonetheless, Pakistan removed affecting the local beef supply chain. slaughtering of donkeys would endan- kistan is ready to sacrifice its donkeys
the ban in October 2023, approving Pakistan has also been a steady source ger the species in Pakistan if it is not to protect China-Pakistan relations.
the export of donkey hides to China, of dogs and dog meat to China for the bred as a profitable export commodity. The continued growth of China’s de-
alongside other goods such as cattle, mand for donkey skin will make an
dairy products, and chillies. A Pa- impact not only on Pakistan’s donkey
kistani media report in September population but also on rural societal
2024 stated that with this ban remov- customs associated with agriculture
al, there was a surge in the prices of and transport including the ecosystem.
donkeys, especially in popular don- It is feared that the donkey population
key markets in Karachi. The removal is going to diminish rapidly if there are
of the ban opened up formal trade no rules or regulations or if the deplet-
in donkey skins strengthening their ing population is not replenished with
bilateral ties with China. China and new farm-grown donkeys.
Pakistan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for the export Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee is a
of donkey meat and skins to China in Research Fellow at Indian Council of
October 2024. World Affairs, New Delhi. The views
Fulfilling the MoU as well as rein-
vigorating the SEZs of CPEC in Gwa- expressed are personal.
dar, China’s Hangeng Trade Compa- This article first appeared in the View-
ny has established a $7 million donkey Pakistan started exporting donkey hide to China in 2014 and 2015 when CPEC was established. point section of the website (www.icwa.
slaughterhouse. This company will During that period, around 200,000 donkey skins were sold to China (Agency file photo) in) of Indian Council of World Affairs,
supply about 300,000 donkey skins to New Delhi, on April 30, 2025

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