PESHAWAR: In order to provide a boost to the export sector, the country will export donkeys to China, opening the avenue to earn millions from the trade, according to media reports. A senior official at the livestock department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) confirmed the move. Globally, Pakistan has the third-largest population of donkeys, while China stands at number one.
The official added that the department shall 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.
On the occasion, officials revealed that foreign companies are willing to make a $3 billion investment enabling commercial farming of donkeys. The government, during the first three years, plans to export 80,000 donkeys to China.
“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.
