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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Skyrocketing Chinese demand for Pakistani donkeys in ejiao industry puts the poor in jeopardy
Abdul Rasheed is in a fix these days. Tiger, his donkey and the only source of income, died in an accident last week. Staring at the prospect of dire poverty, Rasheed is undecided about buying a new one as donkey prices have soared in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan. 'A donkey now costs as high as ₹2,00,000 in the market, way too high than the ₹30,000 I paid to buy Tiger eight years ago,' Rasheed, a donkey cart owner said. Rasheed and hundreds of other poor wage earners like him, who are dependent on donkeys as their only source of livelihood, now face a tough competition from high-value buyers from China. The reason for this sudden surge in donkey prices has been a growing demand from China to source these animals from Pakistan. Reason: China's multi-billion-dollar ejiao industry. Ejiao is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine, made by stewing and concentrating donkey skin. It is widely used in clinics for its biological advantages of being anti-fatigue, immunity-improving properties, for tumour suppression, and for its anti-anaemia effect. For animal rights advocates, China's interest in sourcing donkeys, particularly for their hide, is not new. 'Donkey hides have become a global trade now because in China their demand is higher than the supply. And it will grow to satiate a growing demand for ejiao,' said Dr Prof Guo Jing Feng, who runs the Pu-Sheng Medical Center in Karachi providing alternative and holistic health services. Rasheed said despite having good contacts in Karachi's Lyari, the largest donkey market in the country, the cheapest healthy donkey available is for ₹1,55,000. 'Where can I get that sort of money? And even if I manage something, I am not sure whether the animal will not die out on me before I have recovered the money,' Rasheed, whose annual income is less than ₹400,000, said. Donkeys are an integral part of many industries; chief among them being brick kilns, transport, agriculture, waste collection, recycling and even laundry. Poor wage workers use their donkeys or donkey carts daily to load structural iron and other heavy stuff and transport them across several miles every day in all kinds of terrain. A journey of an hour or more earns Samad, another wage worker, a daily income between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000, almost half of which is spent on the donkey's upkeep. It is the bare minimum, but it is also what keeps the household going for this resident of Karachi. Pakistan is only behind Ethiopia and Sudan in being home to the largest number of donkeys. The population of working donkeys in Pakistan is estimated to be 5.9 million. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the number of donkeys in the country has increased by 1,09,000 over the past year. Not only in Pakistan but globally, reports show that around 500 million poor and marginalised people are dependent on working equids (horses, donkeys and mules) globally. In April 2025, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held meetings with a Chinese delegation who expressed interest in establishing donkey farms in Pakistan. China's demand for donkey hides is attributed to ejiao as one of the top three tonics used in traditional Chinese medicine. According to a newspaper report, in the last five years, the production of ejiao products has shown a 160 per cent growth, which effectively means millions of donkey skins are required to keep up with the demand. A spokesperson for the Ministry for National Food Security and Research said that the decision to establish donkey farms in Pakistan will be beneficial to the country's economy as it will rely on local labour at every stage, including feeding, caretaking, and the management systems in place. Dr Asal Khan, Director General at the Livestock and Dairy Development Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said some private Chinese companies have expressed interest in animal trading with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. 'These proposals were from private companies and did not mature. Their main purpose is to buy donkeys from here and transport them to China for their hides and we are not allowing that to happen,' he said. The hide of a donkey is not influenced by the overall condition of the animal and, according to Zohaib Shah, who sells donkeys in the Lyari market, some Chinese parties are willing to buy even weak, unhealthy donkeys at low costs. 'In one instance, a Chinese group brought 14 donkeys who were small and not healthy at ₹40,000 per animal,' he recalled. For some, the question of sending Pakistani donkeys' hides to China also poses ethical problems. Saleem Reza, who is a senior official of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointed out the biggest one. 'The government has to ensure even if donkeys are in demand by China, they must be sent there without being slaughtered in Pakistan,' he said. 'Donkey meat is haram for us and there has to be a process to ensure it is not used commercially, unethically and illegally. There is a need to establish designated factories for the slaughtering and processing of hides and meat to ensure it does not circulate in Pakistani markets,' Reza added.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Substandard packaging: PPWSMA calls on govt to curb Atta wastage
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Polypropylene Woven Sack Manufacturers Association (PPWSMA) has appealed to the Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, to take urgent action to prevent the wastage of wheat flour (Atta) caused by the use of substandard packaging. In a letter addressed to the Minister, PPWSMA Chairman Iskandar Khan highlighted that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, over 11 million Pakistanis face acute food insecurity. 'Wheat flour (Atta), as it is commonly known, is the staple food of our nation. For a vast majority of our people, a simple Roti with onions or chilies is often their only meal,' Khan wrote. 'To preserve this essential staple in the daily diet of the common man, it must be packed and distributed in compliant sacks and bags as per the official Gazette notification.' He emphasized that significant losses are occurring due to dusting and spillage from poor-quality, non-food grade sacks—resulting in a cumulative wastage valued at approximately Rs 594 billion. The Minister was reminded of Gazette Notification S.R.O. 46(KE)/2017, issued on May 19, 2017, which mandates the use of PSQCA-licensed, environment-friendly, recyclable, and food-grade polypropylene sacks to reduce losses during handling and transit. According to PPWSMA, failure to implement this notification has led to continuous flour wastage since 2017. Khan argued that the cost difference between non-food grade and food-grade sacks is minimal compared to the potential savings. For example, using compliant bags could save Rs 75 per 20kg sack and Rs 37.50 per 10kg sack—totaling an estimated annual savings of Rs 67.2 billion. 'We seek your assistance in ensuring the enforcement of the Gazette notification to stop this massive wastage of Atta, which directly contributes to food insecurity across the country,' Khan concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Govt eyes tractor policy for agri-mechanisation
Listen to article Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain met a delegation from the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) on Thursday to discuss a proposed National Tractor Policy aimed at boosting agricultural mechanisation, productivity, and export potential. The PAAPAM delegation noted that the tractor industry contributes $400 million annually to the economy and argued that a coherent policy could raise this to $1 billion through enhanced exports, job creation, and technology transfer. They emphasised that affordable access to modern tractors is essential for improving farm productivity and ensuring national food security. Hussain agreed that mechanisation is vital for better crop yields and reduced post-harvest losses. He assured the government's support and pledged coordination with the Ministry of Industries and Engineering Development Board to develop an integrated policy. Separately, Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, announced a multi-disciplinary conference to align academic programmes with market needs. Speaking at the renovated Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Dr Altaf Ali Siyal stressed the economic potential of agriculture and livestock and highlighted SAU's work on indigenous breeds. Senior faculty shared updates on climate impact, research, and diagnostics. The Sindh HEC has recognised the lab as a scientific research centre.
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PASSCO: Minister ‘uncovers' nearly Rs1bn corruption
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday revealed that corruption amounting to nearly Rs1 billion had been committed within the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) during wheat procurement operations last year (2024–25). The minister, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security, stated that investigations had confirmed large-scale embezzlement within the state-run procurement body. In response to a query by committee chairman Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Hussain disclosed that the federal government, under directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has decided to dissolve PASSCO and establish a new institution in its place. Officials from PASSCO briefed the committee on wheat procurement activities, noting that the target for the year 2024-25 had been set at 1.8 million tons, of which, 1.785 million tons were successfully procured. They further informed the committee that as of April 28, 2025, the organisation holds wheat stocks amounting to approximately 2.43 million metric tons. However, no procurement target for 2025 has yet been issued by the federal government. Addressing the corruption issue, PASSCO officials said investigations had been initiated against 249 employees, including two senior general managers. Disciplinary actions included the termination of one officer, forced retirement of another, and withholding of salary increments for two others. Concerns were also raised over wheat stock conditions in Balochistan. Senator Danesh Kumar warned of an impending crisis if wheat procurement is not undertaken promptly, noting that some stocks in the province have already spoiled. Minister Hussain confirmed the deterioration of certain wheat stocks in Balochistan. The committee was briefed on the alarming spread of counterfeit seeds in the country. The director general (DG) Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) informed the committee about ongoing actions against companies and officials involved in the sale of fake seeds, which pose a serious threat to food security. The DG told the committee that following the third-party audits, out of 1,200 registered seed companies registered, nearly 400 companies were found involved in selling fake seeds and their registrations been cancelled. Between 2020 and 2024, over 2,700 challans were issued to fake seed sellers, he said. He said that efforts are underway to improve access to quality seeds, including the import of certified and hybrid seeds, particularly for cotton. The minister assured that visible improvements will be seen in the agriculture ministry's performance within six months. Senators Rahat Jamali, Abdul Waseh, Danesh Kumar and senior officials from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research also attended the meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Tobacco exports surpasses $100m
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain on Friday said that Pakistan's tobacco exports have surpassed the US$100 million, signaling a notable boost in the country's foreign exchange earnings. The minister during a meeting with a delegation from Philip Morris International, issued directives for the early issuance of the Minimum Indicative Price (MIP) notification, emphasising that timely administrative decisions are crucial to prevent financial uncertainty for farmers and exporters. During the meeting, they also discussed various issues related to the tobacco sector, including export performance, regulatory challenges, and future prospects. Hussain reiterated that the government remains committed to ensuring a predictable and efficient regulatory process that supports agricultural industries and protects the interests of growers. He emphasised that agriculture-linked sectors such as tobacco play a critical role in employment, rural development, and foreign exchange earnings. The minister said that the role of multinational corporations operating responsibly within Pakistan's legal and regulatory framework and contributing positively to national development. He stressed the importance of maintaining centralised oversight at the federal level to ensure coherence in policymaking and to avoid regulatory fragmentation, which can hinder sectoral growth. He reaffirmed that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research will continue to work proactively with all stakeholders to promote a stable, investment-friendly environment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
