Why China’s Obsession With Pakistan’s Donkeys Is Hurting the Poor

China and Pakistan’s traditional friendship has taken an unexpected twist—with donkeys now at the center of their economic relationship. From being considered modest beasts of burden, donkeys are now being shipped out in higher numbers to China, causing Pakistan to boom as well as burdened.

While Chinese demand increases, Pakistan’s donkey population has increased consistently. The total number of donkeys reached more than 6 million, as estimated by the Pakistan Economic Survey 2023–24, up from last year’s 5.9 million. On the other hand, the number of horses and mules has not changed.

Donkey farms and export facilities increase

Acting to meet China’s demand for donkey hides, Pakistan has stepped up its production activity. Slaughterhouses and farms have cropped up in cities such as Okara and Gwadar, the latter having a $7 million facility that specializes in donkey processing for export.

The authorities state they expect to export more than 200,000 donkeys a year, with some farms now breeding specialized varieties, like the American breed, to suit Chinese tastes. China used to import donkeys from nations such as Niger and Burkina Faso. But since their export was banned, Pakistan has emerged as a leading supplier.

“This is now a world trade,” said Dr Guo Jing Feng, a Karachi-based medical practitioner. “And China‘s demand is far greater than its supply.”

Why Does China Want Donkeys?

China’s main interest is in ejiao, a Chinese medicine produced from donkey-hide gelatin. Dating back more than 3,000 years, ejiao is thought to enhance immunity, vitality, and blood health.

Because China’s domestic donkey number is dwindling, the industry requires almost 5.9 million donkey hides every year—leaving it to seek overseas supplies. With one of the world’s highest populations of donkeys, Pakistan has emerged as a key provider.

Apart from hides, donkey flesh is also sought after. In cities such as Baoding and Hejian in China’s Hebei province, donkey meat burgers are delicacies.

Pakistan’s Poor Bear the Brunt

Though the trade seems economically lucrative, the returns are not reaching the most needy, Pakistan’s rural poor. Donkeys are essential in poor communities. They carry water, construction supplies, and garbage—activities too costly or cumbersome for machinery.

A 2019 report by equine welfare organization Brooke found that a single donkey can be loaded with 1,000 kg of non-recyclable and 100 kg of recyclable waste on a daily basis. “Each donkey is responsible for around six people, assisting them to earn Rs 1,000–1,500 per day,” informed Dr Sher Nawaz of Brooke Pakistan in an interview with Dawn. And now prices have gone sky-high.

Affordability Crisis Hits Daily Wage Earners

Consider Abdul Rasheed’s case. When his sole donkey, Tiger, was killed in an accident, Rasheed lost his means of sustenance. He had purchased Tiger eight years ago for Rs 30,000—but the cheapest donkey in Karachi today is well over Rs 1.55 lakh.

“How can I pay that? Even if by chance I get one, what if it dies before I get my money back?” he questioned.

Others like Rasheed share the same conundrum. In rural and urban areas, laborers are being priced out of the same animals that supported their livelihoods.

Ethical and Religious Concerns Mount

As the business grows, so do concerns. Saleem Reza, a high-ranking officer with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for ethical regulation. The government needs to make sure even if donkeys are needed by China, they should be exported there without being slaughtered in Pakistan,” he said to PTI.

He said that donkey meat is not permissible in Islam, and appealed to the authorities to create specific processing units to see that donkey products are not misused or sold in local markets.

Donkeys: A Symbol of Survival

Pakistan’s deepening dependence on donkey exports reflects its desperate economic situation—but for thousands of citizens, the trade imperils their dignity, livelihood, and very existence.

What might seem like a bilateral success story hides an escalating crisis for thousands who rely on these animals not only for employment, but for survival.