Pakistan clears donkey meat exports

May 04, 2026 (MLN): In a rare and unusual trade development, Pakistan has cleared the export of donkey meat and hides to China after a Chinese-linked firm operating in Gwadar warned it could shut down operations due to prolonged regulatory delays.

According to reports and official statements, the approval was fast-tracked following escalating pressure from Hangeng Trade Company, which operates a slaughterhouse in Gwadar under China-linked investment frameworks.

The company had flagged months of delays in export clearances as a serious operational risk, eventually cautioning it may be forced to halt activities in Pakistan.

The matter gained urgency when the firm issued a public notice stating it was facing “non-market factors” and bureaucratic hurdles that had stalled shipments despite meeting export requirements. It further warned of potential factory closure and job losses, triggering concern among stakeholders and authorities.

Government officials said the issue was escalated to the Prime Minister’s Office after intervention from advisers, prompting a rapid review of pending approvals.

Within days, Pakistan’s cabinet approved the export of donkey meat and hides, with the Animal Quarantine Department subsequently issuing necessary permits.

Industry estimates suggest Pakistan exports around 216,000 donkeys annually, primarily to China, where derivatives are used in traditional medicine, including blood tonics and skincare products. The sector is valued at roughly $300 million annually, according to official figures.

In a parallel development, a statement attributed to Hangeng Trade Company expressed regret over the operational disruptions, citing “policy execution gaps and institutional uncertainties” while apologizing to employees and warning that it could no longer guarantee stable employment under current conditions.

The episode underscores growing friction between investment facilitation and regulatory bottlenecks in Pakistan’s China-linked industrial projects, particularly in strategic zones like Gwadar, where policy delays can quickly escalate into diplomatic and commercial pressure points.

For now, exports have resumed, but the controversy has left behind sharper questions about governance, investment certainty, and the unusual but economically significant trade quietly moving through Pakistan’s southern corridor.

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