Why China loves Pakistani Donkeys?
World | October 07, 2022 / 06:18 AM UST
According to a media source, Pakistan, which has the third-largest population of donkeys in the world, would sell the animal to China, creating the opportunity to make millions from the trade. As the cash-strapped nation struggles to emerge from a severe economic crisis, officials have informed a parliamentary committee that China has expressed interest in importing donkeys and dogs from Pakistan. With 5.7 million animals, Pakistan has the third-largest population of donkeys in the world and has previously transported the animals to China.
One of the Senate Standing Committee's members, Dinesh Kumar, revealed that China has shown interest in importing donkeys as well as dogs from Pakistan during a briefing on imports and exports between the officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Geo News.
The committee was informed by representatives of the commerce ministry, nevertheless, that imports of animals from Afghanistan are currently prohibited due to reports of lumpy skin condition in animals living in the neighbouring nation.
Chinese corporations are interested in donkey farming in Pakistan, and foreign companies are prepared to invest USD 3 billion, according to a top official at the livestock department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the Geo News. The live stock department has declared that it will build donkey farms, the first of their kind in the nation, in an effort to increase the nation's exports.
According to the article, the government intends to sell up to 80,000 donkeys to China in the first three years.
Reason of China`s interest
The reason for China's significant interest in donkeys is that the animal's hide is used to make "eijao," or donkey-hide gelatin, which is allegedly therapeutic and has historically been used to nourish the blood and boost the immune system.
Particularly for their hide, which is used to make traditional Chinese remedies, donkeys are highly regarded in China. In China, donkey skin gelatin has a long history of being valued as a medicine due to its purported ability to support the immune system and nourish the blood.
Pakistan`s New Donkey Farm
The Pakistan government established a donkey farm on more than 3,000 acres in the Punjab province's Okara district last year with the goal of exporting donkeys to supplement the nation's depleting foreign exchange reserves.
