Pakistan to export donkeys to China, aims to earn millions

TEHRAN(Basirat): A Pakistani man rides on his donkey cart across a flooded street during heavy rain in Lahore on January 21, 2019. (Photo by AFP) A Pakistani man rides on his donkey cart across a flooded street during heavy rain in Lahore on January 21, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

Pakistan, which has the third largest donkey population in the world, will export the animal to China, opening the avenue to earn millions from the trade, according to a media report.

Donkeys are highly prized in China, especially for their hide which is used to manufacture traditional Chinese medicines. Gelatin made from donkey skin has been long considered to have medicinal properties in China, traditionally being thought to nourish the blood and enhance the immune system.

According to a senior official at the livestock department in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), the department would focus on building donkey farms in order to boost exports.

Recently, a veterinary facility in Lahore was inaugurated to support the initiative.

Two more farms being set up in Dera Ismail Khan and Mansehra with foreign partnership.

Pakistani authorities have said that foreign companies were willing to make a $3 billion investment enabling commercial farming of donkeys.

During the first three years, the government plans to export as many as 80,000 donkeys to China, according to the report.

"The proposed project will help improve the socio-economic status of donkey-rearing communities by improving the health and production of local donkeys,” according to a statement by the K-P livestock department.

Donkey-rearing is beneficial as gelatin made from donkey skin has been long considered to have medicinal properties.