ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expor­ted over 141,000 donkey hides, mostly to China, for four years before imposition of a temporary ban on the export by the government in September, 2015.

It was revealed by the Ministry of Commerce in a written reply placed before the National Assembly on Friday in response to a question asked by Seema Mohiuddin, an MNA belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The question was not addressed in the house earlier due to suspension of the proceedings by the speaker following the scuffle between the PML-N and PTI members on Thursday evening.

Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan while quoting figures obtained from the Federal Board of Revenue disclosed that a total of 141,075 hides of donkeys were exported to China, Vietnam and Hong Kong from 2011 to 2015.

Information shared amid concern for the animal meat being supplied to hotels

The year-wise breakdown showed that the export increased in terms of the volume as only 10,000 hides were exported in the year 2011-12 but the number reached 97,201 in the year 2014-15.

Interestingly, this [2014-15] was the year when media from various parts of the country, particularly Lahore, reported the supply of donkey meat to hotels and food outlets.

When contacted, Ms Mohiuddin said she wanted to highlight the issue of the reported supply of donkey meat to hotels and shops in Lahore and other areas of the country, adding that she wanted the minister to answer where the meat was dumped.

The issue was taken up by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet in its meeting on Sept 2, 2015, and the participants were informed about the possible extinction of the animal or consumption of its meat.

The food ministry informed the meeting that donkey hides earned Rs18,000-20,000 per piece on their export, mainly to China, leading to mass killing of donkeys through poisoning.

The ECC was also informed that India and Pakistan had the highest donkey population, but it was being exterminated very quickly in Pakistan.

The drop in number of donkeys could be gauged from the fact that export proceeds of donkey hides tripled in a year to over Rs135 million till June 30, 2015 from Rs44m a year ago.

Donkey bones were used in China for anti-wrinkle creams that might also be making its way into the Pakistani market, the meeting feared.

After detailed discussions, the ECC decided to clamp a ban on export of donkey hides till regulatory mechanisms were put in place by the provinces for proper disposal of animal carcasses.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2017