Projected to boost Pakistan’s exports and create jobs, the initiative involves setting up farms and processing facilities in the Gwadar Export Processing Zone.
Key Takeaways:
i) China is considering establishing donkey farms and processing facilities in Gwadar, Pakistan, to meet its growing demand for donkey meat and related products.
ii) The initiative is projected to significantly increase Pakistan’s export revenue and generate employment opportunities for the local population in the Gwadar region.
iii) Pakistani officials have given assurances that the project will include measures to safeguard local donkey breeds from any negative impact.
Islamabad, Pakistan – April 12, 2025 – China is considering establishing donkey farms within Pakistan’s Gwadar Export Processing Zone to cater to its increasing domestic demand for donkey meat and various by-products. A delegation from China recently engaged in discussions with Pakistan’s Minister for National Food Security and Research to explore the feasibility of this project, which would encompass the establishment of farms, modern slaughterhouses, and export-oriented processing units within the zone.
Pakistani officials emphasized the importance of protecting local donkey breeds and ensuring that the project adheres to ethical and sustainable practices.
The proposed project is being viewed by both sides as a significant opportunity to strengthen the economic partnership between Pakistan and China. Pakistani authorities anticipate that this venture will substantially enhance the country’s export capabilities and contribute to the economic development of the Gwadar region by creating new jobs in farming, processing, and logistics. Furthermore, it is expected to foster closer trade relations between the two allied nations.
The establishment of donkey farms in the Gwadar Export Processing Zone would further diversify the economic activities within the zone and leverage its export-oriented status.
During the discussions, Pakistani officials emphasized the importance of protecting local donkey breeds and ensuring that the project adheres to ethical and sustainable practices. Assurances were reportedly given by the Chinese delegation that the initiative would incorporate measures to prevent any adverse effects on Pakistan’s native donkey populations.
Gwadar, a strategically important port city in Balochistan province, is a central component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity and trade between the two countries. The establishment of donkey farms in the Gwadar Export Processing Zone would further diversify the economic activities within the zone and leverage its export-oriented status.
