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Two Chinese companies have formally applied for licenses to export donkey meat and bones from Pakistan, marking a potentially new avenue for foreign exchange earnings.
According to food department officials, the companies have submitted requests for slaughterhouse and export licenses, and a full investigation into their applications is currently underway.
Officials confirmed that if all regulatory requirements are met, exports will be allowed from Gwadar, Balochistan, with clear instructions that meat production and processing will be restricted to this region only.
“The meat and bones will be transported through Gwadar to China, and this could generate significant foreign exchange for Pakistan,” a food ministry representative stated as published in Geo News.
READ: Do you know what’s on your dish? Beef, Mutton, or Donkey meat? Learn the difference
However, authorities have also raised concerns about possible leakage into the local market, warning that strict checks will be enforced to prevent donkey meat from being sold domestically.
Officials cited a recent incident in Islamabad where donkey meat was being processed illegally by a foreign national without proper licensing. This case has added urgency to regulate the sector and enforce legal boundaries.
The ministry also revealed that another company has recently applied for a similar license to export meat, indicating growing interest in Pakistan’s animal by-product sector.
While controversial, the proposal is being evaluated from an economic perspective, with food safety and ethical standards under close review.
