Pakistan has approved the export of donkey meat to China after a Chinese firm warned it might shut down its operations due to prolonged delays. The issue involves Hangeng Trade Company, which operates in Gwadar—a key port city linked to China-backed infrastructure projects. The company had faced months-long delays in obtaining export approvals, highlighting concerns about bureaucratic hurdles affecting foreign investments in the country.
The decision by the Pakistani government comes amid discussions around Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s planned visit to China later this month for an investment forum. Hangeng Trade Company runs a slaughterhouse facility that exports donkey meat and hides to China. These are used in the production of a traditional medicine often marketed as a blood tonic and for treating skin-related conditions.
Pakistan exports approximately 2,16,000 donkeys each year, primarily to China, for meat and hides. Government estimates suggest that the sector has the potential to generate around $300 million annually.
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On May 1, the company issued a public statement saying it was being forced to suspend operations in Pakistan due to ‘non-market factors’ and persistent operational barriers. It warned that it would be “compelled to shut down the factory” and had informed employees about possible closures.
The firm also cautioned other investors to carefully evaluate policy implementation gaps and institutional uncertainty before entering the Pakistani market. It said its shipments had remained stalled despite meeting export standards and added that it had been engaging with Pakistani authorities for three months without resolution.
The dispute centred on pending approvals from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Animal Quarantine Department, which oversees livestock exports. Officials acknowledged that the approvals had been delayed for several months.
Following the company’s statement, Tauqir Shah, an adviser to the prime minister, intervened and escalated the matter to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Officials said the Prime Minister’s Office stepped in on Friday, leading to a swift resolution process. The federal cabinet approved the export of donkey meat the next day, after which the Animal Quarantine Department issued the necessary clearances.
A senior official from the Cabinet Division said due procedures had been followed, noting that decisions by the Economic Coordination Committee—which reviews financial matters—are sometimes ratified in stages. The official confirmed that the export summary received ratification on Friday.
Government sources also indicated that the company had not fully complied with certain agreed conditions, including specific breeding standards required to meet international export quality norms.
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