Dubai: The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has dismantled an illegal donkey slaughter operation in the Tarnol area near the federal capital, seizing over one tonne of meat and rescuing more than 50 donkeys destined for unregulated slaughter.
The raid conducted in coordination with local police and the district administration also led to the arrest of a foreign national, believed to be linked to a wider illegal network involved in the processing and export of donkey meat.
IFA Deputy Director Dr Tahira Siddique confirmed that 25 maunds (1,000 kilograms) of meat were found packed and ready for distribution, Geo Tv reported.
“Initial investigations suggest the meat was not only being sold locally but was also being prepared for export abroad, in violation of health, safety, and export regulations,” she said. “The meat was destroyed on site, and further legal action is underway,” she added.
Aa police case has been registered against the accused, and a full-scale investigation is now focused on identifying the buyers and supply chain networks connected to the operation.
The raid comes against the backdrop of soaring international demand for donkey hides and meat, particularly from China, where the animals are not only used in culinary practices but also form the backbone of the e-jiao industry—a traditional medicinal product made from donkey skin collagen.
E-jiao, believed to improve blood circulation, boost immunity, and enhance skin and reproductive health, is a cornerstone of China’s traditional medicine industry. The product has 3,000 years of history and is protected as a form of national cultural heritage, according to Chinese state media. China’s Shandong province alone accounts for 90% of the world’s e-jiao production.
To sustain this demand, millions of donkey hides are needed annually, according to a 2024 report by The Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based animal welfare organization. This demand has triggered a sharp rise in illegal slaughter around the world and Pakistan is no exception.
While incidents like the Tarnol raid highlight the risks of unregulated trade, Pakistan is also taking steps to legitimize and regulate its involvement in the donkey by-products export market.
In June 2023, Pakistan’s federal cabinet approved protocols to export donkey hides to China. These were part of a broader trade agreement that also included dairy, cattle, and agricultural goods. Following this approval, Pakistan’s first officially sanctioned donkey meat and hide processing plant was launched in Gwadar, operated by China’s Hangeng Trade Company, with an investment of $7 million.
The Gwadar facility is designed to process up to 300,000 hides per year, supplying China’s cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. Donkey bones and meat from the plant are also expected to be exported for culinary and medicinal purposes.
This legal framework offers Pakistan a rare opportunity to capitalize on a niche global market while protecting public health, improving traceability, and creating rural economic opportunities.
