In a major development to boost Sino-Pak livestock value chain development initiative in Gwadar, Shahzad and Shao (Private) business firm, a joint venture of Pakistan and Chinese companies, officially secured four acres of land on August 10 in the Gwadar North Free Zone to establish a donkey slaughterhouse and processing factory for exporting donkey meat and hides to China.

In order to start the construction work for the donkey factory, initial soil testing has been conducted as per set rules and regulations.

In accordance with government guidelines, the company has also obtained a quota of 150,000 donkeys for slaughter per year.

“The company has already obtained all necessary licenses and no-objection certificates from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the Animal Quarantine Department and General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC),” a GPA official told Gwadar Pro.

Efforts are afoot to develop donkey farms in collaboration with local donkey farmers in the areas of Sindh and Punjab, he added.

The development came on the heels of two consignments dispatched by Hangeng company from the Gwadar North Free Zone to China last month.

Hangeng exported donkey meat and hides valuing $195,425 through two consignments to China after fulfilling all inspections, criteria, certifications and regulations from Pakistan and China.

A Hangeng official told Gwadar Pro that both export activity came to happen after formal lifting of ban on the export of donkey hides to China by the government of Pakistan. All donkey meat was dispatched in frozen condition by ship.

Pakistan’s first China-led top-notch construction of modern slaughterhouse for donkey meat and hide was completed at a cost of $50 million last year.

In China, there is a significant market demand for donkey meat and hides, particularly as donkey hides serve as a crucial raw material for Ejiao, a traditional Chinese medicinal product.

Pakistan, the world’s third-largest donkey-owning country, has a population of approximately 5.8 million donkeys.

A GPA official revealed that having been catalysed with construction of donkey slaughterhouse and companies’ operationalization in Gwadar North Free Zone, many other companies have applied for obtainment of lands.

These companies include MLG Farms, Sang Yang Global Limited, Foshan Brothers and Sisters Trading Company.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China